overburden
|o-ver-bur-den|
B2
🇺🇸
/ˌoʊvərˈbɜrdən/
🇬🇧
/ˌəʊvəˈbɜːdn/
excessive load
Etymology
Etymology Information
'overburden' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'overburdenen,' where 'over-' meant 'excessively' and 'burden' meant 'load.'
Historical Evolution
'overburdenen' transformed into the modern English word 'overburden.'
Meaning Changes
Initially, it meant 'to load excessively,' and this meaning has largely remained the same in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the material that lies above an area of economic or scientific interest, such as the rock and soil above a coal seam.
The miners had to remove the overburden before reaching the coal.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:41