overhead

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   regular business costs that are not tied to making one specific product or service

   Rent and insurance added too much overhead for the tiny studio.

2. 2
   adv

   above one's head; in the sky or higher up

   A helicopter circled overhead during the rescue.

3. 3
   adj

   located above the head or coming from above

   The room had harsh overhead lights.

4. 4
   noun

   extra work, memory, or time needed to manage a process rather than do its core task

   The wrapper adds little overhead to each request.

From Middle English over hede, from Old English oferheafod, literally over the head. The cost sense treats indirect expenses as carried above the main work.

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