overlap
English · Thesaurus
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overlap
- /ˌəʊvəˈlæp/ UK
- /ˌoʊvɚˈlæp/ US
- /ˈəʊvəˌlæp/ UK
- /ˈoʊvɚˌlæp/ US
Rhymes with -æp
Where it comes from
From over- + lap.
Cognate with Dutch overlap.
verb overlaps · overlapping · overlapped
-
To extend over and partly cover something.
The mouse-mat overlapped the edge of the desk.
Similar: lap
- To co-occur, to happen at the same time.
- To have an area, range, character or function in common. The two maps overlapped at the east and west edges.
- Of sets: to have some elements in common. The set (all men) overlaps the set (vegetarians).
- To have some similar nucleotide sequences.
- An illusion of depth is created when one object partially covers another.
noun overlaps
- Something that overlaps or is overlapped.
- a situation in the game where an attacking line has more players in it than the defensive line coming to meet it. The attacking side may exploit the overlap by using their superior numbers to break the opposition's defensive line. If attackers outnumber defenders by more than one player this is often termed a two man overlap or three man overlap, etc. If the attacking side fails to break through usually due to poor execution, they are said to waste an overlap.
- The payment of a spouse's or other dependant's annuity benefits concurrently with the member's benefits, on death of the member during the guarantee period.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: intersection, convergence, lap, overlay, overlie, interweaving, crosscut, layering, layered, crossover, intersect, cross-over, straddle, cross-section, protrude, thrusting
Translations
Every language
verb to have DNA parts in common
| Español | superponerse, sobreponerse |
|---|---|
| Português | sobrepor-se |
| Français | se chevaucher |
| Italiano | sovrapporsi |
verb transitive: to extend over and partly cover something
| Español | solapar, traslapar, asolapar, imbricar |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 重叠 chóngdié |
| Português | sobrepor, cobrir |
| Français | chevaucher |
| Deutsch | überlappen, überlagern, überdecken, hinausragen über |
| Italiano | embricare, accavallare, sovrapporsi |
| Ελληνικά | επικαλύπτω epikalýpto |
| Română | suprapune |
| Русский | накрыва́ть nakryvátʹ, перекрыва́ть perekryvátʹ |
| Tiếng Việt | chồng chéo |
verb intransitive: to extend over and partly cover something
| Español | solaparse, traslaparse, imbricarse |
|---|
verb to have an area, range, character or function in common
| Français | se chevaucher |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | überschneiden, überlappen |
| Ελληνικά | επικαλύπτομαι epikalýptomai |
| Русский | пересека́ться peresekátʹsja |
verb (used of sets) to have some elements in common
| Français | avoir une intersection commune avec |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | schneiden |
| Ελληνικά | επικαλύπτομαι epikalýptomai |
| Русский | пересека́ться peresekátʹsja |
noun something that overlaps
| Español | solapo, traslapo |
|---|---|
| Français | chevauchement |
| Ελληνικά | επικάλυψη epikálypsi |
| Русский | нахлёст naxljóst, перекрытие perekrytije |
Talk about this word "overlap." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/overlap. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. overlap. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/overlap "overlap." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/overlap.Cite this
@misc{overlap_2026,
title = {overlap},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/overlap},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
