Library / English Dictionary

OVERHAUL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

The act of improving by renewing and restoring

Example:

a major overhaul of the healthcare system was proposed

Synonyms:

overhaul; redevelopment; renovation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("overhaul" is a kind of...):

improvement (the act of improving something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "overhaul"):

face lift; face lifting; facelift (a renovation that improves the outward appearance (as of a building) but usually does not involve major changes)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Periodic maintenance on a car or machine

Example:

it was time for an overhaul on the tractor

Synonyms:

inspection and repair; overhaul; service

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("overhaul" is a kind of...):

care; maintenance; upkeep (activity involved in maintaining something in good working order)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "overhaul"):

interim overhaul (an overhaul between the regular times for overhauling)

Derivation:

overhaul (make repairs, renovations, revisions or adjustments to)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Make repairs, renovations, revisions or adjustments to

Example:

overhaul the health care system

Synonyms:

modernise; modernize; overhaul

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "overhaul" is one way to...):

regenerate; renew (reestablish on a new, usually improved, basis or make new or like new)

"Overhaul" entails doing...:

bushel; doctor; fix; furbish up; mend; repair; restore; touch on (restore by replacing a part or putting together what is torn or broken)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "overhaul"):

retrofit (substitute new or modernized parts or equipment for older ones)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

overhaul (periodic maintenance on a car or machine)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Travel past

Example:

The sports car passed all the trucks

Synonyms:

overhaul; overtake; pass

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "overhaul" is one way to...):

advance; go on; march on; move on; pass on; progress (move forward, also in the metaphorical sense)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "overhaul"):

get by (pass or move in front of)

clear; top (pass by, over, or under without making contact)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Credits

 Context examples: 

The smoke was still miles astern, but overhauling us rapidly, when we lowered our boats.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

“Well, well,” he said at last, “duty first and pleasure afterwards, as you might have said yourself, Silver. Let us overhaul these patients of yours.”

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The lazarette was directly beneath the cabin, and, opening the trap-door in the floor and carrying a candle with me, I dropped down and began overhauling the ship’s stores.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

They had “got their rations for that day,” as the captain put it, and we had the place to ourselves and a quiet time to overhaul the wounded and get dinner.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

For the last little while I had even lost, but now redoubling my efforts, I began once more to overhaul the chase.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

The whole schooner had been overhauled; six berths had been made astern out of what had been the after-part of the main hold; and this set of cabins was only joined to the galley and forecastle by a sparred passage on the port side.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)