"overdrive" meaning in English

See overdrive in All languages combined, or Wiktionary

Noun

IPA: /ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈdɹaɪv/, /ˈəʊvə(ɹ)ˌdɹaɪv/ Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-overdrive (verb).wav , LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-overdrive (noun).wav Forms: overdrives [plural]
Etymology: From over- + drive, originally referring to gear ratios over 1:1. Etymology templates: {{af|en|over-|drive}} over- + drive Head templates: {{en-noun|~}} overdrive (countable and uncountable, plural overdrives)
  1. (dated, automotive) A gear, on an automobile, higher than the traditionally normal top gear, mainly to allow better fuel economy at highway speeds. In the 21st century, such gears are no longer viewed as "extra" and thus are often not called by this name anymore. Tags: countable, dated, uncountable Categories (topical): Automotive Synonyms: OD, O/D, O.D. Translations (gear on an automobile): ylivaihde (Finnish), surmultipliée [feminine] (French), Schnellgang [feminine] (German), Overdrive [masculine] (German), πέμπτη (pémpti) (Greek), sovrautilizzo [masculine] (Italian)
    Sense id: en-overdrive-en-noun-en:high_ratio_gear_most_suitable_for_highway_use Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English heteronyms, English terms prefixed with over-, Pages with entries, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Greek translations, Terms with Italian translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 27 14 24 31 4 Disambiguation of English heteronyms: 25 24 24 23 4 Disambiguation of English terms prefixed with over-: 32 17 23 15 13 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 17 9 18 19 1 20 13 2 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 21 18 31 26 4 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 24 20 23 28 5 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 25 22 24 24 5 Disambiguation of Terms with Greek translations: 25 18 23 28 5 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 24 22 24 25 4 Topics: automotive, transport, vehicles Disambiguation of 'gear on an automobile': 76 5 10 9
  2. (uncountable, figurative) A state of heightened activity. Tags: figuratively, uncountable Synonyms: top gear, ;, full throttle Translations (state of heightened activity): ylikierrokset (Finnish), surrégime [masculine] (French), surmenage (French), υπερτάχυνση (ypertáchynsi) [feminine] (Greek)
    Sense id: en-overdrive-en-noun-en:state_of_heightened_activity Categories (other): English terms with collocations, English entries with incorrect language header, English heteronyms, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Greek translations, Terms with Italian translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 27 14 24 31 4 Disambiguation of English heteronyms: 25 24 24 23 4 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 21 18 31 26 4 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 24 20 23 28 5 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 25 22 24 24 5 Disambiguation of Terms with Greek translations: 25 18 23 28 5 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 24 22 24 25 4 Disambiguation of 'state of heightened activity': 1 98 1 0
  3. (euphemistic, slang) Freewheeling (driving a vehicle with the transmission in neutral) on downhill stretches to achieve higher fuel economy and/or speed than otherwise. In colloquial registers, ethnically bigoted variants have been common, such as Jewish overdrive (alluding to the stereotype of miserly Jews) or Mexican overdrive or Polish overdrive (alluding to stereotypes of foolishness and poverty). Tags: countable, euphemistic, slang, uncountable Synonyms: see at angel gear
    Sense id: en-overdrive-en-noun-en:angel_gear__euphemistically Categories (other): English euphemisms, English entries with incorrect language header, English heteronyms, Pages with entries, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Greek translations, Terms with Italian translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 27 14 24 31 4 Disambiguation of English heteronyms: 25 24 24 23 4 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 17 9 18 19 1 20 13 2 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 21 18 31 26 4 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 24 20 23 28 5 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 25 22 24 24 5 Disambiguation of Terms with Greek translations: 25 18 23 28 5 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 24 22 24 25 4
  4. (engineering, mechanical) A gear ratio higher than 1:1: one in which a single revolution of the driving element corresponds to more than one revolution of the driven element. Tags: countable, uncountable Categories (topical): Engineering
    Sense id: en-overdrive-en-noun-BZLqy83F Categories (other): English entries with incorrect language header, English heteronyms, Entries with translation boxes, Pages with entries, Terms with Finnish translations, Terms with French translations, Terms with German translations, Terms with Greek translations, Terms with Italian translations Disambiguation of English entries with incorrect language header: 27 14 24 31 4 Disambiguation of English heteronyms: 25 24 24 23 4 Disambiguation of Entries with translation boxes: 23 16 18 40 3 Disambiguation of Pages with entries: 17 9 18 19 1 20 13 2 Disambiguation of Terms with Finnish translations: 21 18 31 26 4 Disambiguation of Terms with French translations: 24 20 23 28 5 Disambiguation of Terms with German translations: 25 22 24 24 5 Disambiguation of Terms with Greek translations: 25 18 23 28 5 Disambiguation of Terms with Italian translations: 24 22 24 25 4 Topics: engineering, mechanical, mechanical-engineering, natural-sciences, physical-sciences
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Derived forms: Georgia overdrive, Jewish overdrive, Mexican overdrive, Polish overdrive Related terms: hyperdrive, oversteer, understeer, upshift
Etymology number: 2

Verb

IPA: /ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈdɹaɪv/, /ˈəʊvə(ɹ)ˌdɹaɪv/ Audio: LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-overdrive (verb).wav , LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-overdrive (noun).wav Forms: overdrives [present, singular, third-person], overdriving [participle, present], overdrove [past], overdriven [participle, past]
Etymology: From Middle English overdriven, from Old English oferdrīfan, equivalent to over- + drive. Cognate with Saterland Frisian uurdrieuwe (“to overdo, overstate”), Dutch overdrijven (“to exaggerate”), German Low German overdrieven, överdrieven (“to overdo, exaggerate”), German übertreiben (“to overdo, exaggerate”), Norwegian overdrive (“to exaggerate”). Etymology templates: {{inh|en|enm|overdriven}} Middle English overdriven, {{inh|en|ang|oferdrīfan}} Old English oferdrīfan, {{af|en|over-|drive}} over- + drive, {{cog|stq|uurdrieuwe|t=to overdo, overstate}} Saterland Frisian uurdrieuwe (“to overdo, overstate”), {{cog|nl|overdrijven|t=to exaggerate}} Dutch overdrijven (“to exaggerate”), {{cog|nds-de|overdrieven}} German Low German overdrieven, {{cog|de|übertreiben|t=to overdo, exaggerate}} German übertreiben (“to overdo, exaggerate”), {{cog|no|overdrive|t=to exaggerate}} Norwegian overdrive (“to exaggerate”) Head templates: {{en-verb|overdrives|overdriving|overdrove|overdriven}} overdrive (third-person singular simple present overdrives, present participle overdriving, simple past overdrove, past participle overdriven)
  1. (transitive) To drive too hard, or far, or beyond strength. Tags: transitive
    Sense id: en-overdrive-en-verb-cb5oGp19
The following are not (yet) sense-disambiguated
Etymology number: 1

Inflected forms

Alternative forms

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      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "overdriven"
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      "expansion": "Middle English overdriven",
      "name": "inh"
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    {
      "args": {
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        "3": "oferdrīfan"
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      "name": "cog"
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      "name": "cog"
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        "2": "overdrieven"
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      "expansion": "German Low German overdrieven",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "übertreiben",
        "t": "to overdo, exaggerate"
      },
      "expansion": "German übertreiben (“to overdo, exaggerate”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "no",
        "2": "overdrive",
        "t": "to exaggerate"
      },
      "expansion": "Norwegian overdrive (“to exaggerate”)",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English overdriven, from Old English oferdrīfan, equivalent to over- + drive. Cognate with Saterland Frisian uurdrieuwe (“to overdo, overstate”), Dutch overdrijven (“to exaggerate”), German Low German overdrieven, överdrieven (“to overdo, exaggerate”), German übertreiben (“to overdo, exaggerate”), Norwegian overdrive (“to exaggerate”).",
  "forms": [
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        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "overdriving",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "overdrove",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "overdriven",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
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        "1": "overdrives",
        "2": "overdriving",
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      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [],
      "glosses": [
        "To drive too hard, or far, or beyond strength."
      ],
      "id": "en-overdrive-en-verb-cb5oGp19",
      "links": [
        [
          "drive",
          "drive"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To drive too hard, or far, or beyond strength."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
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      "ipa": "/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈdɹaɪv/"
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  "word": "overdrive"
}

{
  "derived": [
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      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "Georgia overdrive"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "Jewish overdrive"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "Mexican overdrive"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "Polish overdrive"
    }
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        "3": "drive"
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  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "overdrives",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
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      "args": {
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  ],
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  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "hyperdrive"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "oversteer"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "understeer"
    },
    {
      "_dis1": "0 0 0 0",
      "word": "upshift"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
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          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Automotive",
          "orig": "en:Automotive",
          "parents": [
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            "Fundamental"
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      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Near-synonym: top gear"
        },
        {
          "text": "In the 1970s, many transmission designs were revised to add an overdrive gear.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1981 October, Popular Mechanics, volume 156, number 4, page 201:",
          "text": "Cruising in overdrive at legal highway speed keeps rpm right at 1800, depending on rear-axle ratio.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A gear, on an automobile, higher than the traditionally normal top gear, mainly to allow better fuel economy at highway speeds. In the 21st century, such gears are no longer viewed as \"extra\" and thus are often not called by this name anymore."
      ],
      "id": "en-overdrive-en-noun-en:high_ratio_gear_most_suitable_for_highway_use",
      "links": [
        [
          "automotive",
          "automotive"
        ],
        [
          "gear",
          "gear"
        ],
        [
          "top gear",
          "top gear"
        ],
        [
          "fuel economy",
          "fuel economy"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(dated, automotive) A gear, on an automobile, higher than the traditionally normal top gear, mainly to allow better fuel economy at highway speeds. In the 21st century, such gears are no longer viewed as \"extra\" and thus are often not called by this name anymore."
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "en:high-ratio gear most suitable for highway use"
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "OD"
        },
        {
          "word": "O/D"
        },
        {
          "word": "O.D."
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "dated",
        "uncountable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "automotive",
        "transport",
        "vehicles"
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      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "76 5 10 9",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "gear on an automobile",
          "word": "ylivaihde"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "76 5 10 9",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "gear on an automobile",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "surmultipliée"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "76 5 10 9",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "gear on an automobile",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "Schnellgang"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "76 5 10 9",
          "code": "de",
          "lang": "German",
          "sense": "gear on an automobile",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "Overdrive"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "76 5 10 9",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "pémpti",
          "sense": "gear on an automobile",
          "word": "πέμπτη"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "76 5 10 9",
          "code": "it",
          "lang": "Italian",
          "sense": "gear on an automobile",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "sovrautilizzo"
        }
      ]
    },
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        {
          "word": "low gear"
        }
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        }
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "overdrive pacing",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "The campaign has been in overdrive since the recent announcement.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2000, Salman Rushdie, The ground beneath her feet, page 78:",
          "text": "It is true, though it's got nothing to do with me, that the building boom that created the Bombay of my childhood went into overdrive in the years before my birth",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2022 July 26, Mike Isaac, “‘Operating With Increased Intensity’: Zuckerberg Leads Meta Into Next Phase”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:",
          "text": "So, Mr. Zuckerberg has kicked his company into overdrive with a strong message: It’s time to do more with less.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A state of heightened activity."
      ],
      "id": "en-overdrive-en-noun-en:state_of_heightened_activity",
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(uncountable, figurative) A state of heightened activity."
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "en:state of heightened activity"
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "top gear"
        },
        {
          "word": ";"
        },
        {
          "word": "full throttle"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively",
        "uncountable"
      ],
      "translations": [
        {
          "_dis1": "1 98 1 0",
          "code": "fi",
          "lang": "Finnish",
          "sense": "state of heightened activity",
          "word": "ylikierrokset"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 98 1 0",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "state of heightened activity",
          "tags": [
            "masculine"
          ],
          "word": "surrégime"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 98 1 0",
          "code": "fr",
          "lang": "French",
          "sense": "state of heightened activity",
          "word": "surmenage"
        },
        {
          "_dis1": "1 98 1 0",
          "code": "el",
          "lang": "Greek",
          "roman": "ypertáchynsi",
          "sense": "state of heightened activity",
          "tags": [
            "feminine"
          ],
          "word": "υπερτάχυνση"
        }
      ]
    },
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      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Of course overdrive is forbidden for dump trucks in the quarry because it is unsafe, but unscrupulous workers were found to be using it because of a perverse incentive involving tonnage piece rates.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Freewheeling (driving a vehicle with the transmission in neutral) on downhill stretches to achieve higher fuel economy and/or speed than otherwise. In colloquial registers, ethnically bigoted variants have been common, such as Jewish overdrive (alluding to the stereotype of miserly Jews) or Mexican overdrive or Polish overdrive (alluding to stereotypes of foolishness and poverty)."
      ],
      "id": "en-overdrive-en-noun-en:angel_gear__euphemistically",
      "links": [
        [
          "Freewheeling",
          "freewheel#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "transmission",
          "transmission"
        ],
        [
          "neutral",
          "neutral#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "downhill",
          "downhill"
        ],
        [
          "fuel economy",
          "fuel economy"
        ],
        [
          "speed",
          "speed"
        ],
        [
          "colloquial",
          "colloquial#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(euphemistic, slang) Freewheeling (driving a vehicle with the transmission in neutral) on downhill stretches to achieve higher fuel economy and/or speed than otherwise. In colloquial registers, ethnically bigoted variants have been common, such as Jewish overdrive (alluding to the stereotype of miserly Jews) or Mexican overdrive or Polish overdrive (alluding to stereotypes of foolishness and poverty)."
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "en:angel gear, euphemistically"
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "see at angel gear"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "euphemistic",
        "slang",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        {
          "kind": "topical",
          "langcode": "en",
          "name": "Engineering",
          "orig": "en:Engineering",
          "parents": [
            "Applied sciences",
            "Technology",
            "Sciences",
            "All topics",
            "Fundamental"
          ],
          "source": "w"
        },
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          "_dis": "27 14 24 31 4",
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          "name": "English entries with incorrect language header",
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            "Entries with incorrect language header",
            "Entry maintenance"
          ],
          "source": "w+disamb"
        },
        {
          "_dis": "25 24 24 23 4",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "English heteronyms",
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        {
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        },
        {
          "_dis": "24 22 24 25 4",
          "kind": "other",
          "name": "Terms with Italian translations",
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          "source": "w+disamb"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A gear ratio higher than 1:1: one in which a single revolution of the driving element corresponds to more than one revolution of the driven element."
      ],
      "id": "en-overdrive-en-noun-BZLqy83F",
      "links": [
        [
          "engineering",
          "engineering#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "gear ratio",
          "gear ratio"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(engineering, mechanical) A gear ratio higher than 1:1: one in which a single revolution of the driving element corresponds to more than one revolution of the driven element."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "engineering",
        "mechanical",
        "mechanical-engineering",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈdɹaɪv/"
    },
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    {
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    },
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    }
  ],
  "word": "overdrive"
}
{
  "categories": [
    "English countable nouns",
    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English heteronyms",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms derived from Middle English",
    "English terms derived from Old English",
    "English terms inherited from Middle English",
    "English terms inherited from Old English",
    "English terms prefixed with over-",
    "English uncountable nouns",
    "English verbs",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 3 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Greek translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations"
  ],
  "etymology_number": 1,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "enm",
        "3": "overdriven"
      },
      "expansion": "Middle English overdriven",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "ang",
        "3": "oferdrīfan"
      },
      "expansion": "Old English oferdrīfan",
      "name": "inh"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "over-",
        "3": "drive"
      },
      "expansion": "over- + drive",
      "name": "af"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "stq",
        "2": "uurdrieuwe",
        "t": "to overdo, overstate"
      },
      "expansion": "Saterland Frisian uurdrieuwe (“to overdo, overstate”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "nl",
        "2": "overdrijven",
        "t": "to exaggerate"
      },
      "expansion": "Dutch overdrijven (“to exaggerate”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "nds-de",
        "2": "overdrieven"
      },
      "expansion": "German Low German overdrieven",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "de",
        "2": "übertreiben",
        "t": "to overdo, exaggerate"
      },
      "expansion": "German übertreiben (“to overdo, exaggerate”)",
      "name": "cog"
    },
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "no",
        "2": "overdrive",
        "t": "to exaggerate"
      },
      "expansion": "Norwegian overdrive (“to exaggerate”)",
      "name": "cog"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From Middle English overdriven, from Old English oferdrīfan, equivalent to over- + drive. Cognate with Saterland Frisian uurdrieuwe (“to overdo, overstate”), Dutch overdrijven (“to exaggerate”), German Low German overdrieven, överdrieven (“to overdo, exaggerate”), German übertreiben (“to overdo, exaggerate”), Norwegian overdrive (“to exaggerate”).",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "overdrives",
      "tags": [
        "present",
        "singular",
        "third-person"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "overdriving",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "present"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "overdrove",
      "tags": [
        "past"
      ]
    },
    {
      "form": "overdriven",
      "tags": [
        "participle",
        "past"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "overdrives",
        "2": "overdriving",
        "3": "overdrove",
        "4": "overdriven"
      },
      "expansion": "overdrive (third-person singular simple present overdrives, present participle overdriving, simple past overdrove, past participle overdriven)",
      "name": "en-verb"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "verb",
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English transitive verbs"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "To drive too hard, or far, or beyond strength."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "drive",
          "drive"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(transitive) To drive too hard, or far, or beyond strength."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "transitive"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈdɹaɪv/"
    },
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      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-overdrive (verb).wav",
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  "word": "overdrive"
}

{
  "categories": [
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    "English entries with incorrect language header",
    "English heteronyms",
    "English lemmas",
    "English nouns",
    "English terms prefixed with over-",
    "English uncountable nouns",
    "Entries with translation boxes",
    "Pages with 3 entries",
    "Pages with entries",
    "Terms with Finnish translations",
    "Terms with French translations",
    "Terms with German translations",
    "Terms with Greek translations",
    "Terms with Italian translations"
  ],
  "derived": [
    {
      "word": "Georgia overdrive"
    },
    {
      "word": "Jewish overdrive"
    },
    {
      "word": "Mexican overdrive"
    },
    {
      "word": "Polish overdrive"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_number": 2,
  "etymology_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "en",
        "2": "over-",
        "3": "drive"
      },
      "expansion": "over- + drive",
      "name": "af"
    }
  ],
  "etymology_text": "From over- + drive, originally referring to gear ratios over 1:1.",
  "forms": [
    {
      "form": "overdrives",
      "tags": [
        "plural"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "head_templates": [
    {
      "args": {
        "1": "~"
      },
      "expansion": "overdrive (countable and uncountable, plural overdrives)",
      "name": "en-noun"
    }
  ],
  "lang": "English",
  "lang_code": "en",
  "pos": "noun",
  "related": [
    {
      "word": "hyperdrive"
    },
    {
      "word": "oversteer"
    },
    {
      "word": "understeer"
    },
    {
      "word": "upshift"
    }
  ],
  "senses": [
    {
      "categories": [
        "English dated terms",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "en:Automotive"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Near-synonym: top gear"
        },
        {
          "text": "In the 1970s, many transmission designs were revised to add an overdrive gear.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "1981 October, Popular Mechanics, volume 156, number 4, page 201:",
          "text": "Cruising in overdrive at legal highway speed keeps rpm right at 1800, depending on rear-axle ratio.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A gear, on an automobile, higher than the traditionally normal top gear, mainly to allow better fuel economy at highway speeds. In the 21st century, such gears are no longer viewed as \"extra\" and thus are often not called by this name anymore."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "automotive",
          "automotive"
        ],
        [
          "gear",
          "gear"
        ],
        [
          "top gear",
          "top gear"
        ],
        [
          "fuel economy",
          "fuel economy"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(dated, automotive) A gear, on an automobile, higher than the traditionally normal top gear, mainly to allow better fuel economy at highway speeds. In the 21st century, such gears are no longer viewed as \"extra\" and thus are often not called by this name anymore."
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "en:high-ratio gear most suitable for highway use"
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "OD"
        },
        {
          "word": "O/D"
        },
        {
          "word": "O.D."
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "dated",
        "uncountable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "automotive",
        "transport",
        "vehicles"
      ]
    },
    {
      "antonyms": [
        {
          "word": "low gear"
        }
      ],
      "categories": [
        "English terms with collocations",
        "English terms with quotations",
        "English terms with usage examples",
        "English uncountable nouns"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "overdrive pacing",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "text": "The campaign has been in overdrive since the recent announcement.",
          "type": "example"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2000, Salman Rushdie, The ground beneath her feet, page 78:",
          "text": "It is true, though it's got nothing to do with me, that the building boom that created the Bombay of my childhood went into overdrive in the years before my birth",
          "type": "quote"
        },
        {
          "ref": "2022 July 26, Mike Isaac, “‘Operating With Increased Intensity’: Zuckerberg Leads Meta Into Next Phase”, in The New York Times, →ISSN:",
          "text": "So, Mr. Zuckerberg has kicked his company into overdrive with a strong message: It’s time to do more with less.",
          "type": "quote"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A state of heightened activity."
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(uncountable, figurative) A state of heightened activity."
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "en:state of heightened activity"
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "top gear"
        },
        {
          "word": ";"
        },
        {
          "word": "full throttle"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "figuratively",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "English euphemisms",
        "English slang",
        "English terms with usage examples"
      ],
      "examples": [
        {
          "text": "Of course overdrive is forbidden for dump trucks in the quarry because it is unsafe, but unscrupulous workers were found to be using it because of a perverse incentive involving tonnage piece rates.",
          "type": "example"
        }
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "Freewheeling (driving a vehicle with the transmission in neutral) on downhill stretches to achieve higher fuel economy and/or speed than otherwise. In colloquial registers, ethnically bigoted variants have been common, such as Jewish overdrive (alluding to the stereotype of miserly Jews) or Mexican overdrive or Polish overdrive (alluding to stereotypes of foolishness and poverty)."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "Freewheeling",
          "freewheel#Verb"
        ],
        [
          "transmission",
          "transmission"
        ],
        [
          "neutral",
          "neutral#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "downhill",
          "downhill"
        ],
        [
          "fuel economy",
          "fuel economy"
        ],
        [
          "speed",
          "speed"
        ],
        [
          "colloquial",
          "colloquial#English"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(euphemistic, slang) Freewheeling (driving a vehicle with the transmission in neutral) on downhill stretches to achieve higher fuel economy and/or speed than otherwise. In colloquial registers, ethnically bigoted variants have been common, such as Jewish overdrive (alluding to the stereotype of miserly Jews) or Mexican overdrive or Polish overdrive (alluding to stereotypes of foolishness and poverty)."
      ],
      "senseid": [
        "en:angel gear, euphemistically"
      ],
      "synonyms": [
        {
          "word": "see at angel gear"
        }
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "euphemistic",
        "slang",
        "uncountable"
      ]
    },
    {
      "categories": [
        "en:Engineering"
      ],
      "glosses": [
        "A gear ratio higher than 1:1: one in which a single revolution of the driving element corresponds to more than one revolution of the driven element."
      ],
      "links": [
        [
          "engineering",
          "engineering#Noun"
        ],
        [
          "gear ratio",
          "gear ratio"
        ]
      ],
      "raw_glosses": [
        "(engineering, mechanical) A gear ratio higher than 1:1: one in which a single revolution of the driving element corresponds to more than one revolution of the driven element."
      ],
      "tags": [
        "countable",
        "uncountable"
      ],
      "topics": [
        "engineering",
        "mechanical",
        "mechanical-engineering",
        "natural-sciences",
        "physical-sciences"
      ]
    }
  ],
  "sounds": [
    {
      "ipa": "/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈdɹaɪv/"
    },
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    },
    {
      "ipa": "/ˈəʊvə(ɹ)ˌdɹaɪv/"
    },
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      "audio": "LL-Q1860 (eng)-Vealhurl-overdrive (noun).wav",
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    }
  ],
  "translations": [
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "gear on an automobile",
      "word": "ylivaihde"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "gear on an automobile",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "surmultipliée"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "gear on an automobile",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "Schnellgang"
    },
    {
      "code": "de",
      "lang": "German",
      "sense": "gear on an automobile",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "Overdrive"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "pémpti",
      "sense": "gear on an automobile",
      "word": "πέμπτη"
    },
    {
      "code": "it",
      "lang": "Italian",
      "sense": "gear on an automobile",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "sovrautilizzo"
    },
    {
      "code": "fi",
      "lang": "Finnish",
      "sense": "state of heightened activity",
      "word": "ylikierrokset"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "state of heightened activity",
      "tags": [
        "masculine"
      ],
      "word": "surrégime"
    },
    {
      "code": "fr",
      "lang": "French",
      "sense": "state of heightened activity",
      "word": "surmenage"
    },
    {
      "code": "el",
      "lang": "Greek",
      "roman": "ypertáchynsi",
      "sense": "state of heightened activity",
      "tags": [
        "feminine"
      ],
      "word": "υπερτάχυνση"
    }
  ],
  "word": "overdrive"
}

Download raw JSONL data for overdrive meaning in English (11.7kB)


This page is a part of the kaikki.org machine-readable English dictionary. This dictionary is based on structured data extracted on 2025-02-22 from the enwiktionary dump dated 2025-02-02 using wiktextract (9e2b7d3 and f2e72e5). The data shown on this site has been post-processed and various details (e.g., extra categories) removed, some information disambiguated, and additional data merged from other sources. See the raw data download page for the unprocessed wiktextract data.

If you use this data in academic research, please cite Tatu Ylonen: Wiktextract: Wiktionary as Machine-Readable Structured Data, Proceedings of the 13th Conference on Language Resources and Evaluation (LREC), pp. 1317-1325, Marseille, 20-25 June 2022. Linking to the relevant page(s) under https://kaikki.org would also be greatly appreciated.