overburden
overburden Lexical Profile
overburden Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To load someone or something with too many tasks, responsibilities, or excessive weight.
"We must be careful not to overburden the new interns with complex assignments during their first week."
• noun
The layer of rock, soil, or ecosystem that lies above a mineral deposit, coal seam, or archaeological site and must be removed before surface mining or excavation.
"Heavy machinery was brought in to strip away the thick overburden before the miners could reach the coal seam."
An excessive load, responsibility, or duty placed upon a person or system.
"The sudden influx of patients created an administrative overburden that the clinic struggled to manage."
• Rhymes for overburden
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in the 16th century from the prefix 'over-' and 'burden' (from Old English 'byrðen', meaning a load or duty). The geological and mining noun sense referring to overlying soil and rock emerged in the late 19th century.