over

 
Pronunciation: /ˈəʊvə/

preposition

  • 1extending directly upwards from: I saw flames over Berlin cook the sauce over a moderate heat
  • above so as to cover or protect: an oxygen tent over the bed ladle this sauce over fresh pasta
  • extending above (an area) from a vantage point: views over Hyde Park
  • 2at a higher level or layer than: his flat was over the shop
  • higher in rank than: over him is the financial director
  • expressing authority or control: editorial control over what is included
  • expressing preference: I’d choose the well-known brand over that one
  • expressing majority: there was a slight predominance of boys over girls
  • higher in volume or pitch than: he shouted over the noise of the taxis
  • 3higher or more than (a specified number or quantity): over 40 degrees C they’ve been married for over a year
  • 4expressing passage or trajectory across: she trudged over the lawn
  • beyond and falling or hanging from: he toppled over the side of the boat
  • at the other side of; beyond: over the hill is a small village
  • 5expressing duration: you’ve given us a lot of heartache over the years she told me over coffee
  • 6expressing the medium by which something is done; by means of: a voice came over the loudspeaker
  • 7on the subject of: a long and heated debate over unemployment

adverb

  • 1expressing passage or trajectory across an area: he leant over and tapped me on the hand
  • in or to the place indicated: I’m over here
  • 2beyond and falling or hanging from a point: she knocked the jug over
  • 3used to express action and result: the car flipped over hand the money over
  • finished: the match is over message understood, over and out
  • 4used to express repetition of a process: the jukebox plays every song twice over the sums will have to be done over again

noun

Cricket
  • a sequence of six balls bowled by a bowler from one end of the pitch, after which another bowler takes over from the other end.

Phrases

be over

no longer be affected by: we were over the worst

get something over with

do or undergo something unpleasant or difficult, so as to be rid of it.

over against

  • 1adjacent to: over against the wall
  • 2in contrast with: over against heaven is hell

over and above

in addition to: exceptional service over and above what normally might be expected

over and done with

completely finished.

over and over

again and again: doing the same thing over and over again

Origin:

Old English ofer, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch over and German über, from an Indo-European word (originally a comparative of the element represented by -ove in above) which is also the base of Latin super and Greek huper