OVERLOAD

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does overload mean? 

• OVERLOAD (noun)
  The noun OVERLOAD has 2 senses:

1. an electrical load that exceeds the available electrical power

2. an excessive burden

  Familiarity information: OVERLOAD used as a noun is rare.

• OVERLOAD (verb)
  The verb OVERLOAD has 3 senses:

1. become overloaded

2. fill to excess so that function is impaired

3. place too much a load on

  Familiarity information: OVERLOAD used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OVERLOAD (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An electrical load that exceeds the available electrical power

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("overload" is a kind of...):

burden; load; loading (weight to be borne or conveyed)

Sense 2

Meaning:

An excessive burden

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

overburden; overload

Hypernyms ("overload" is a kind of...):

burden; load; loading (weight to be borne or conveyed)

Derivation:

overload (fill to excess so that function is impaired)

overload (place too much a load on)

overload (become overloaded)

• OVERLOAD (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they overload    ... he / she / it overloads   
Past simple: overloaded   
Past participle: overloaded   
-ing form: overloading   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Become overloaded

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Context example:

The aerator overloaded

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

overload (an excessive burden)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Fill to excess so that function is impaired

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

clog; overload

Context example:

The story was clogged with too many details

Hypernyms (to "overload" is one way to...):

fill; fill up; make full (make full, also in a metaphorical sense)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

overload (an excessive burden)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Place too much a load on

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

overcharge; overload; surcharge

Context example:

don't overload the car

Hypernyms (to "overload" is one way to...):

lade; laden; load; load up (fill or place a load on)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

overload (an excessive burden)

 Context examples 

As a result, stimulation of glutamate receptors leads to supranormal Ca2+ responses in HD MSN and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload.

(Huntington's Disease Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/KEGG)

The team used genetically modified mice that mimic the increased fatty acid uptake (lipid overload) that characterizes diabetes to investigate the consequences of cardiac lipid overload on mitochondria.

(Excess Fat Disrupts Heart Cell's Energy System, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Taking too much all at once can overload your stomach and make you throw up.

(Dehydration, NIH)

In the first place, the little gallipot of a boat that we were in was gravely overloaded.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Don’t overload your already packed schedule.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Testing the device's over-current protection circuitry for its response to situations of overload, short circuit, or ground fault.

(Device Overcurrent Protection Testing Evaluation Method, Food and Drug Administration)

Enlargement or overgrowth of the myocardium of the left ventricle, due to chronic pressure overload.

(Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, NCI Thesaurus)

An electrical device designed to stop the flow of current when an overload condition exists.

(Fuse Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)

NOTE(S): The term "protocol" is somewhat overloaded and must be qualified to provide semantic context.

(Clinical Study Protocol, NCI Thesaurus/BRIDG)

It is when the system is overloaded over a long period of time that this machinery breaks down.

(Artificial Sweeteners Can Still Lead to Obesity, Diabetes, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)