| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| over |
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| SYLLABICATION: | o·ver |
| PRONUNCIATION: |    v r |
| PREPOSITION: | 1. In or at a position above or higher than: a sign over the door; a hawk gliding over the hills. 2a. Above and across from one end or side to the other: a jump over the fence. b. To the other side of; across: strolled over the bridge. c. Across the edge of and down: fell over the cliff. 3. On the other side of: a village over the border. 4a. Upon the surface of: put a coat of varnish over the woodwork. b. On top of or down upon: clubbed him over the head; tripped over the toys. 5a. Through the extent of; all through: walked over the grounds; looked over the report. b. Through the medium of; via: addressed us over the loudspeaker; can't tell you over the phone. 6. So as to cover: put rocks over a cave entrance; threw a shawl over her shoulders. 7. Up to or higher than the level or height of: The water was over my shoulders. 8a. Through the period or duration of: records maintained over two years. b. Until or beyond the end of: stayed over the holidays. 9. More than in degree, quantity, or extent: over ten miles; over a thousand dollars. 10a. In superiority to: won a narrow victory over her rival; a distinct advantage over our competitors. b. In preference to: selected him over all the others. 11. In a position to rule or control: The director presides over the meeting. There is no one over him in the department. 12. So as to have an effect or influence on: the change that came over you. 13. While occupied with or engaged in: a chat over coffee. 14. With reference to; concerning: an argument over methods. | | ADVERB: | 1. Above the top or surface: climbed the ladder and peered over. 2a. Across to another or opposite side: stopped at the curb, then crossed over. b. Across the edge, brink, or brim: The coffee spilled over. c. Across an intervening space: Throw the ball over. 3a. Across a distance in a particular direction or at a location: lives over in England. b. To another often specified place or position: Move your chair over toward the fire. c. To one's place of residence or business: invited us over for cocktails. 4. Throughout an entire area or region: wandered all over. 5a. To a different opinion or allegiance: win someone over. b. So as to be comprehensible, acceptable, or effective; across: eventually got my point over. 6. To a different person, condition, or title: sign the property over. 7. So as to be completely enclosed or covered: The river froze over. Engineers sealed the tunnel entrance over. 8. Completely through; from beginning to end: Think the problem over. Let's read the memo over. 9a. From an upright position: kicked the bookstand over. b. From an upward position to an inverted or reversed position: turn the paper over. 10. Another time; again: counted his cards over; had to do it over. 11. In repetition: made me write it ten times over. 12. In addition or excess; in surplus: lots of food left over. 13. Beyond or until a specified time: stay a day over. 14. At an end: Summer is over. | | ADJECTIVE: | 1. External; outer. 2. Excessive; extreme. 3a. Not yet used up; remaining. b. Extra; surplus. | | NOUN: | Sports A series of six balls bowled from one end of a cricket pitch. | | TRANSITIVE VERB: | Inflected forms: o·vered, o·ver·ing, o·vers
To jump over: Horse and rider overed the stile with ease. | | INTERJECTION: | Used in two-way radio to indicate that a transmission is complete and a reply is awaited. | | IDIOMS: | over against As opposed to; contrasted with. over and above In addition to: travel expenses over and above entertainment costs. over and over Again and again; repeatedly. over with Completely finished; done: Let's get the shopping over with. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English, from Old English ofer. See uper in Appendix I.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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