n. & v.
--n.
1. an additional charge or payment.
2 a charge made by assessors as a penalty for false returns of taxable property.
3 a mark printed on a postage stamp changing its value.
4 an additional or excessive load.
5 Brit. an amount in an official account not passed by the auditor and having to be refunded by the person responsible.
6 the showing of an omission in an account for which credit should have been given.
--v.tr.
1. exact a surcharge from.
2 exact (a sum) as a surcharge.
3 mark (a postage stamp) with a surcharge.
4 overload.
5 fill or saturate to excess.
Etymology: ME f. OF surcharger (as SUR-(1), CHARGE)