/oh'veuhr book"/ , v.t.
1. to accept reservations for in excess of the number that can be accommodated: The airline routinely overbooks its flights so as to fill its planes even if there are last-minute cancellations.
v.i.
2. to accept reservations in excess of the number that can be accommodated: If the hotel has overbooked, some of the conventioners won't have a place to stay.
[ 1900-05; OVER- + BOOK (v.) ]