ˈəuvə adv.,
prep., n., & adj. --adv. expressing
movement or
position or
state above or
beyond something stated or implied: 1
outward and downward from a
brink or from
any erect position (knocked
the man over). 2 so as to
cover or
touch a
whole surface (paint it over). 3 so as to
produce a fold, or
reverse a position;
with the
effect of
being upside down. 4 a
across a
street or
other space (decided to
cross over;
came over from America). b
for a
visit etc. (invited
them over last night). 5 with
transference or
change from
one hand or
part to
another (went over to the
enemy; swapped them over). 6 with
motion above something; so as to pass across something (climb over; fly over; boil over). 7 from
beginning to
end with
repetition or detailed
concentration (think it over;
did it
six times over). 8 in
excess;
more than is
right or required (left over). 9 for or
until a later
time (hold it over). 10 at an end; settled (the
crisis is over;
all is over
between us). 11 (in full over to you) (as int.) (in
radio conversations etc.)
said to
indicate that it is the other person's
turn to
speak. 12 (as int.) Cricket an umpire's
call to change ends. --prep. 1 above,
in, or to a position higher than;
upon. 2
out and down from; down from the
edge of (fell over the cliff). 3 so as to cover (a
hat over
his eyes). 4 above and across; so as to
clear (flew over the
North Pole; a bridge over the Thames). 5
concerning;
engaged with; as a
result of;
while occupied with (laughed over a
good joke; fell
asleep over the newspaper). 6 a in
superiority of;
superior to; in
charge of (a
victory over the enemy;
reign over
three kingdoms). b in
preference to. 7 divided
by. 8 a
throughout;
covering the
extent of (travelled over
most of Africa; a
blush spread over his face). b so as to deal with completely (went over the plans). 9 a for the
duration of (stay over
Saturday night). b at any
point during the
course of (I'll do it over the weekend). 10 beyond; more than (bids of over ø50; are
you over 18?). 11 transmitted by (heard it over the radio). 12 in
comparison with (gained 20% over last year). 13 having recovered from (am
now over my
cold; will
get over it in time). --n. Cricket 1 a
sequence of balls (now usu. six), bowled from one end of the pitch. 2
play resulting from
this (a
maiden over). --adj. (see
also OVER-). 1 upper,
outer. 2 superior. 3
extra. øbegin (or
start etc.) over US
begin again. get it over with do or
undergo something
unpleasant etc. so as to be
rid of
it.
give over (usu. as int.) colloq.
stop talking.
not over not
very; not at all (not over friendly). over again
once again, again from the beginning. over
against in an
opposite situation to;
adjacent to, in
contrast with. over-age over a
certain age limit. over all taken as a whole. over and above in
addition to; not to
mention (ø100 over and above the asking price). over and over so that the
same thing or the same point comes up again and again (said it over and over; rolled it over and over). over the
fence Austral. & NZ sl.
unreasonable;
unfair;
indecent. over one's
head see HEAD. over the
hill see HILL. over the
moon see MOON. over-the-top colloq. (esp. of
behaviour,
dress, etc.)
outrageous,
excessive. over the
way (in a street etc.)
facing or opposite. [OE ofer f. Gmc]