I. o ‧ ver 1 S1 W1 /ˈəʊvə $ ˈoʊvər/ BrE AmE preposition
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: ofer ]
1 . ABOVE above or higher than something, without touching it OPP under :
A lamp hung over the table.
She leaned over the desk to answer the phone.
The sign over the door said ‘Mind your head’.
We watched a helicopter flying low over the harbour.
2 . COVERING on something or covering it OPP under :
Over the body lay a thin white sheet.
She wore a large jacket over her sweater.
Mind you don’t spill coffee over my best tablecloth.
3 . ACROSS from one side of something to the other side of it:
Somehow the sheep had jumped over the fence.
The road over the mountains is steep and dangerous.
a bridge over the River Thames
Their house has a magnificent view over the bay.
4 . ON THE OTHER SIDE on the opposite side of something from where you already are:
There’s a bus stop just over the road.
They live over the river in Richmond.
5 . DOWN FROM SOMETHING down from the edge of something:
The car plunged over a cliff.
6 . IN MANY PARTS OF SOMETHING in or to many parts of a particular place, organization, or thing:
He used to wander over the moors, losing all track of time.
all over (something) (=in every part)
They said they had cleaned up but there were bottles all over the place.
Scientists from all over the world gather here.
7 . NO LONGER AFFECTED if you are over an illness or a bad experience or situation, you are no longer affected by it ⇨ recover :
I think we’re over the worst of the crisis now.
He had a fever last night, but he seems to be over it now.
Sybil has never got over the shock of her mother’s death.
I’m over him now (=I am no longer in love with him) .
8 . MORE THAN more than a particular number, amount, or level OPP under :
The Japanese were producing over 100 million tons of steel.
toys suitable for children over the age of three
drivers who go over the speed limit
the over-30s/50s etc (=people who are more than a particular age)
a social club for the over-60s
9 . DURING during:
Will you be home over the summer vacation?
Over a period of ten years he stole a million pounds from the company.
Can we talk about this over dinner?
10 . CONCERNING about a particular subject, person, or thing:
He’s having problems over his income tax.
a row over public expenditure
There is concern over the bad image of the legal profession.
11 . CONTROLLING in control of or influencing someone or something:
Genghis ruled over an empire that stretched from Persia across to China.
She had great personal influence and power over her followers.
12 . BETTER used to say that someone or something is more successful or better than someone or something else:
Ipswich’s 3–1 win over Manchester City
Can Labour maintain its lead over the Conservatives?
It has one great advantage over its rivals.
13 . BY TELEPHONE/RADIO using something such as a telephone or radio:
I don’t want to talk about this over the telephone.
I heard the news over the radio.
14 . over and above in addition to something:
He gets a travel allowance over and above his existing salary.
15 . LOUDER THAN SOMETHING making a sound louder than another sound:
‘What?’ he yelled over the noise of the engine and the wind.
16 . PREFERRING if you choose one thing over another, you choose that thing rather than the other:
What is your main reason for choosing one restaurant over another?
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ during at one point in a period of time, or through the whole of a period of time:
Did you hear the storm during the night?
|
During the summer we spend a lot more time out of doors.
▪ all through ( also throughout ) /ɔːl ˈθruː, θruːˈaʊt/ during all of a period of time:
The cafe’s closed all through the winter and opens again in April.
|
Throughout her career she has worked hard and achieved the highest standards.
▪ over at one point or at various different points during a period of time:
I’m going to redecorate my bedroom over the holidays.
|
She’s been a great help to me over the past year.
▪ in the course of something formal during a particular process or period of time:
In the course of the study we consulted with leading experts in global warming.
|
Many factors control the rise and fall of a species in the course of evolution.
|
There was huge social change in the course of the 1960s.
▪ within during a period of time, or before the end of a period – used when you want to emphasize that it is a short or limited period:
There have been five serious accidents within the last few days.
|
Payment must be made within 30 days.
|
If we are inviting you for an interview, you will receive a letter within 14 days.
II. over 2 S1 W1 BrE AmE adverb , adjective
1 . FALLING DOWN from an upright position into a position of lying on a surface:
He was so drunk he fell over in the road.
Mind you don’t knock the candle over.
Engineers are working to prevent the tower from toppling over.
2 . BENDING/FOLDING so that someone or something is no longer straight or flat, but is bent or folded in the middle:
As Sheila bent over, a sudden pain shot up her back.
He folded the paper over and put it in his pocket.
3 . ACROSS
a) from one side of an object, space, or area to the other side:
There are only three canoes so some people will have to swim over.
The wall was crumbling where children had climbed over.
I went over (=crossed the room, street etc) to say hello, but Vincent didn’t recognize me.
over to
We flew over to the US to visit my Aunt Polly.
over from
One of my cousins is coming over from France with his wife and daughter.
Come over here and see what I’ve found.
b) in a place that is on the other side of a space or area:
Bill lives over on the other side of town.
She was standing over by the window.
Do you see that building over there?
4 . IN OR TO A PLACE in or to a particular house, city etc:
You really should come over and see our new house.
I spent the whole day over at Gabby’s place.
We could drive over to Oxford this afternoon.
5 . FINISHED if an event or period of time is over, it has finished:
Is the meeting over yet?
over (and done) with (=used about something unpleasant)
I’m so glad the mid-term exams are over and done with.
You’d better give them the bad news. Do it now – get it over with.
6 . TO THE SIDE towards one side:
The bus pulled over to the side of the road.
Would you move over, so I can sit next to you.
7 . GIVING from one person or group to another:
The attacker was ordered to hand over his weapon.
Most of the money has been signed over to his children.
8 . CHANGING from one position or system to another:
The guards change over at midnight.
We switched over from electricity to gas because it was cheaper.
9 . TURNING so that the bottom or the other side of something can now be seen:
Turn the box over and open it at that end.
Josh rolled over and went back to sleep.
10 . MORE THAN more than or higher than a particular number, amount, or level OPP under :
Almost 40% of women are size 14 or over.
People earning £33,000 and over will pay the higher rate of tax.
11 . VERY/TOO used before an adjective or adverb to mean ‘very’ or ‘too’:
She didn’t seem over pleased when I asked her to wait.
Perhaps we were all over enthusiastic about the project.
12 . REMAINING an amount of something that is over is what remains after some of it has been used:
There should be some money over when I’ve paid all the bills.
There was a little food left over from the party.
13 . COVERED used to show that something is completely covered with a substance or material:
Most of the windows have been boarded over.
Parts of the river were iced over.
over with
The door had been painted over with a bright red varnish.
14 . ABOVE above someone or something:
We stood on the roof watching the planes fly over.
15 . TALKING/THINKING/READING in a detailed and careful way:
After talking it over with my wife, I’ve decided to retire.
I’ll need time to read the contract over before I sign.
Think it over carefully before you make a decision.
16 . AGAIN American English if you start or do something over, you do it again:
I got mixed up and had to start over.
17 . over and over (again) many times:
The way to learn the script is to say it to yourself over and over again.
18 . twice over/three times over etc
a) used to say how many times the same thing happens:
He sings each song twice over.
The pattern is repeated many times over.
b) used to say by how much an amount is multiplied:
Trade between the two countries has increased five times over.
19 . all over again used to emphasize that you do the whole of something again from the beginning, or that the same thing happens again:
Their first plan had gone wrong, so they had to start all over again.
We had quarrelled about the money before, and now it was happening all over again.
20 . over to somebody used to say that it is now someone else’s turn to do something, to speak etc:
I’ve done my best. Now it’s over to the professionals.
21 . RADIO MESSAGE spoken used when communicating by radio to show that you have finished speaking:
Are you hearing me loud and clear? Over.
22 . over against something formal used to say what something is compared to or preferred to:
The Celtic Church maintained the Greek calendar over against that of Rome.
23 . it’s not over until the fat lady sings ( also it’s not over until it’s over ) used during a game, election etc to say that, although a particular result seems likely, the situation could still change
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ finished if something is finished, you have done all of it:
She showed him the finished drawing.
|
I was very pleased with the finished result.
▪ done [not before noun] finished - used especially in everyday English instead of finished :
I can’t come out till my essay’s done.
|
They promised the work would be done by April.
▪ complete [not before noun] completely finished – used especially to emphasize that there is no more work to do:
Six months later the job was complete.
|
The first stage of the project is now complete.
▪ over finished – used about an event, activity, or period of time:
Football practice is over at 4:30. Can you pick me up then?
|
The summer was nearly over.
▪ be through informal to have finished doing something or using something:
I probably won’t be through till about 6 o'clock.
|
Are you through with those scissors?
III. over 3 BrE AmE noun [countable]
the period of time in the game of ↑ cricket during which six or eight balls are thrown by the same ↑ bowler in one direction
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ finished if something is finished, you have done all of it:
She showed him the finished drawing.
|
I was very pleased with the finished result.
▪ done [not before noun] finished - used especially in everyday English instead of finished :
I can’t come out till my essay’s done.
|
They promised the work would be done by April.
▪ complete [not before noun] completely finished – used especially to emphasize that there is no more work to do:
Six months later the job was complete.
|
The first stage of the project is now complete.
▪ over finished – used about an event, activity, or period of time:
Football practice is over at 4:30. Can you pick me up then?
|
The summer was nearly over.
▪ be through informal to have finished doing something or using something:
I probably won’t be through till about 6 o'clock.
|
Are you through with those scissors?