From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishoverlapo‧ver‧lap1 /ˌəʊvəˈlæp $ ˌoʊvər-/ ●○○ AWL verb (overlapped, overlapping) [intransitive, transitive] 1 COVERif two or more things overlap, part of one thing covers part of another thing One of Jilly’s front teeth overlaps the other. The tiles on the roof overlap.2 SAMEif two subjects, ideas etc overlap, they include some but not all of the same things Maxwell’s responsibilities overlap yours, so you will be sharing some of the work.overlap with The study of sociology overlaps with the study of economics. two great men with overlapping interests3 AFTERif two activities or periods of time overlap, the second one starts before the first one has finished The second phase of development overlaps the first.overlap with My vacation overlaps with yours.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
overlap• Thus, as we have seen, the two clauses may overlap.• There was also talk that these daredevils flew with their rotor blades overlapped by several feet, just for fun.• The responsibilities of the two departments overlap in certain areas.• Here, two three-panelled screens have been overlapped in the middle.• The dominance hierarchies of primates are often more complex, overlapping networks, rather than the simple ladder of the hen hierarchy.• The band was fairly drunk, and the tunes tended to overlap now.• Having merged the two companies, his first task is to eliminate overlapping product lines.• These should fit into the well of the recessed window and have a flange which overlaps the edge of the well.• Overlap the first strip of cloth with the second by about two inches.• Arrange the slices of potato carefully in a circular manner, overlapping to cover the bottom of the quiche pan.overlap with• This year Easter overlaps with Ramadan.overlapo‧ver‧lap2 /ˈəʊvəlæp $ ˈoʊvər-/ ●○○ AWL noun [countable, uncountable] SAMEthe amount by which two activities, ideas, things etc overlapoverlap between There is considerable overlap between the girls’ and boys’ test results.overlap of an overlap of about two centimetres a large degree of overlapExamples from the Corpus
overlap• Thus the figures for the second and third choices had an overlap.• Line a terrine with bacon rashers leaving an overlap for the top.• These texts were then processed by the confusion simulator program, and the output used as input to the definitional overlap program.• In this area there is overlap with critical analysis and with the general study of sign-systems, as in semiotics.• More revealing than their obvious differences are those points of overlap between the materialist and the psychoanalytic accounts.• A special overlap and border adhesive, like a thick pva, is made for just this type of situation.• Therefore, although there is a substantial overlap between section 1 and section 15, section 15 is not otiose.degree of overlap• First, there exists a considerable degree of overlap between the various titles.• This suggests that there is now a greater degree of overlap in the characteristics of people accommodated in different forms of care.• Naturally, given the degree of overlap, there is some connection between inter-bank interest rates and rates in the traditional market.• The degree of overlap increases away from the equator. 