Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Overgrow: meaning, definitions and examples

🌿
Add to dictionary

overgrow

 

[ ˌoʊvərˈɡroʊ ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

physical growth

To overgrow means to grow excessively or beyond the normal limits, often in reference to plants or vegetation. It can describe how a plant expands its size and coverage, overtaking other plants or structures. This term can also denote how certain areas become untamed or wild due to unchecked growth. Overgrowth can lead to a range of ecological issues, including the displacement of native species. It is often used in gardening and landscaping contexts to describe the need for maintenance or trimming.

Synonyms

crowd, invade, overrun, proliferate, thicken.

Examples of usage

  • The garden began to overgrow after weeks without care.
  • We need to cut back the bushes before they overgrow the pathway.
  • The forest tends to overgrow in the absence of controlled burns.
  • If left unattended, the weeds will overgrow the entire area.

Translations

Translations of the word "overgrow" in other languages:

🇵🇹 crescer descontroladamente

🇮🇳 अधिक उगना

🇩🇪 überwuchern

🇮🇩 tumbuh berlebihan

🇺🇦 переростати

🇵🇱 przerośnięcie

🇯🇵 過剰に成長する

🇫🇷 envahir

🇪🇸 crecer desmesuradamente

🇹🇷 aşırı büyümek

🇰🇷 과도하게 자라다

🇸🇦 يزدهر بشكل مفرط

🇨🇿 přerůst

🇸🇰 prekročiť

🇨🇳 过度生长

🇸🇮 prerasti

🇮🇸 vaxa of mikið

🇰🇿 артық өсу

🇬🇪 გაუმჯობესება

🇦🇿 artıq böyümək

🇲🇽 crecer desmesuradamente

Etymology

The word 'overgrow' is derived from the combination of the prefix 'over-' meaning excessively or too much, and 'grow' which comes from the Old English 'grōwan,' meaning to increase in size, develop, or multiply. The utilization of the term can be traced back to agriculture and gardening, where it was necessary to describe the phenomenon of plants growing beyond desired bounds. Over the years, the term has expanded in its application to include ecological contexts where plants, shrubs, or trees take over land, thereby impacting the local flora and fauna. This process can lead to ecological imbalances, prompting discussions around land management and conservation efforts. The dual nature of 'overgrow' highlights both the beauty and the challenges of unchecked natural growth, making it a versatile term in environmental discourse.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #38,704, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.