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Overburden

//ˌəʊ̯vəˈbɜːdn̩// noun, verb

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The rock and subsoil that lies above a mineral deposit such as a coal seam, or any other underground feature. countable, uncountable

    "Before much progress was made with the inverts, however, the movement became accelerated, and it was decided to lighten the load over the tunnel by removing some of the soil, […]. This reduction in the overburden arrested the movement, and the inverting and centring were completed, and the tunnel opened again to traffic on April 9, 1949."

  2. 2
    an excessive burden wordnet
  3. 3
    A sterile stratum that lies above the stratum being investigated. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    the surface soil that must be moved away to get at coal seams and mineral deposits wordnet
Verb
  1. 1
    To overload or overtax. transitive

    "In reality, the levels of work varied: some internationals seemed overburdened with tasks and responsibility, some seemed underburdened, and some faced apparently just the right amount of work."

  2. 2
    burden with too much work or responsibility wordnet
  3. 3
    load with excessive weight wordnet

Etymology

Etymology 1

From over- + burden.

Etymology 2

From over- + burden.

See also for "overburden"

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