Overbend
noun, verb ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Definitions
- 1 The portion of a pipeline that curves downward from a higher level to the inflection point where the surface holding the upper part is no longer supporting the pipe.
"The overbend occurs mainly on the laybarge/vessel and the stinger. The setting of the rollers to obtain a radius of curvature is the main control of the overbend."
- 2 An instance of overbending (bending too far).
"This becomes even more critical if you overbend and have to unbend in some area. It can be tricky to spot where the overbend is located."
- 3 The amount by which a material has been overbent.
"This unit features precalculation of required overbend, which Datex calls " adaptive springback compensation.""
- 4 A note that is played sharp due to overbending.
"Figure 32 is an example of an overbend on the G string: Note how my 2nd and 1st fingers are helping the 3rd finger to bend the string , while the index finger serves the added function of pushing the other strings out of the way ."
- 5 A note that is played sharp due to overbending.
"The note you hear when you play an overbend seems to pop out of nowhere, with no slide up from another note."
- 1 To bend over.
"The heavens grow wonderful with purple hue, Soft, rich and deep, peace giving to mine eyes. They overbend the square , Above whose entrance fair The arch , by the Republic set , doth rise In high triumphal state;"
- 2 To bend to excess; to bend farther than the desired or intended amount.
"If you sharpen a razor too much you will notch the edge, and if you overbend the bow, at last 'twill break ."
- 3 To increase the tension on a string at the fret, causing the note to sharpen.
"Try not to overbend that B flat."
- 4 To overblow or overdraw in order to create a note that is sharper; to move the point in the mouth where airflow is narrowest forward.
"Some mid-priced models respond faborably to overbending, but they work much better with reed adjustment."
Example
More examples"The heavens grow wonderful with purple hue, Soft, rich and deep, peace giving to mine eyes. They overbend the square , Above whose entrance fair The arch , by the Republic set , doth rise In high triumphal state;"
Etymology
From over- + bend.
Related phrases
More for "overbend"
Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.