overwork: Meaning and Definition of

o•ver•work

Pronunciation: (v.ō"vur-wûrk'n.ō'vur-wûrk"), [key]
— v.t.
  1. to cause to work too hard, too much, or too long; weary or exhaust with work (often used reflexively): Don't overwork yourself on that new job.
  2. to work up, stir up, or excite excessively: to overwork a mob to the verge of frenzy.
  3. to employ or elaborate to excess:for sympathy that has been overworked by many speakers. an appeal
  4. to work or decorate all over; decorate the surface of: white limestone overworked with inscriptions.
—v.i.
  1. to work too hard, too much, or too long; work to excess: You look as though you've been overworking.
—n.
  1. work beyond one's strength or capacity.
  2. extra or excessive work.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
See also: