OVERUSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does overuse mean? 

• OVERUSE (noun)
  The noun OVERUSE has 1 sense:

1. exploitation to the point of diminishing returns

  Familiarity information: OVERUSE used as a noun is very rare.

• OVERUSE (verb)
  The verb OVERUSE has 1 sense:

1. make use of too often or too extensively

  Familiarity information: OVERUSE used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OVERUSE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Exploitation to the point of diminishing returns

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

overexploitation; overuse; overutilisation; overutilization

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

development; exploitation (the act of making some area of land or water more profitable or productive or useful)

Derivation:

overuse (make use of too often or too extensively)

• OVERUSE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they overuse    ... he / she / it overuses   
Past simple: overused   
Past participle: overused   
-ing form: overusing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make use of too often or too extensively

Classified under:

Verbs of eating and drinking

Synonyms:

overdrive; overuse

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

apply; employ; use; utilise; utilize (put into service; make work or employ for a particular purpose or for its inherent or natural purpose)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

overuse (exploitation to the point of diminishing returns)

 Context examples 

However, playing sports, running, overuse or falling can all sometimes lead to hip injuries.

(Hip Injuries and Disorders, NIH)

Causes include arthritis, joint overuse, joint injury, and the aging process.

(Joint Stiffness, NCI Thesaurus)

Other causes are: • Straining or overusing a muscle • Dehydration • A lack of minerals in your diet or the depletion of minerals in your body • Not enough blood getting to your muscles

(Muscle Cramps, NIH)

The problem is usually overuse, such as from sitting at a computer for too long.

(Neck Injuries and Disorders, NIH)

You may also get tendinitis from overuse of the elbow.

(Elbow Injuries and Disorders, NIH)

Overuse can cause stress fractures, which are very small cracks in the bone.

(Fractures, NIH)

Diabetes, however, reduces the heart muscle's metabolic adaptability and causes heart cells to overuse fat as a metabolic fuel.

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

However, overuse or inappropriate use of antibiotics may lead to the emergence and spread of antibiotic resistance.

(No benefit to shortening ear infection treatment, NIH)

Dr Guo said while it was well-known the overuse and misuse of antibiotics could create 'superbugs', researchers were unaware that other chemicals could also induce antibiotic resistance until now.

(Toothpaste and Hand Wash Are Causing Antibiotic Resistance, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Bursitis may be caused by long-term overuse, trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, or infection.

(Bursitis, NCI Dictionary)