---
title: overload — school dictionary · trees and pragmatics
description: «overload» in the school dictionary: To overload something is to put too much weight or too many things on or in it. Every meaning for a pupil with its dependency tree and pragmatics.
---

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# overload

<!-- .vintro -->
**Who acts:** something, you, Overloading, lift, many pop ups, teacher · **What happens:** overload, be, cause, handle, not overload, start · **To what, where:** something, plug, circuit, fire, overload, person · **Speech:** someone speaks here

<!-- .vabout -->
«overload» in the school dictionary: its 4 meanings for a pupil and its 8 examples, every sentence parsed by Mova itself — its syntax tree, a dependency tree in the style of Universal Dependencies, and its pragmatics clause by clause. The word in the dictionary, with its sense in the lessons: [overload in the school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/overload.md).

## Meaning 1 {#m1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To overload something is to put too much weight or too many things on or in it.

<!-- fold The tree, 17 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overload:m1:1
# text = To overload something is to put too much weight or too many things on or in it.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	overload	overload	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	advcl	_	_
3	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	2	obj	_	_
4	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	6	cop	_	_
5	to	to	PART	TO	_	6	mark	_	_
6	put	put	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	too	too	ADV	RB	_	8	advmod	_	_
8	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	weight	weight	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	_
10	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	13	cc	_	_
11	too	too	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	things	thing	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	9	conj	_	_
14	on	on	ADP	RP	_	17	case	_	_
15	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	17	cc	_	_
16	in	in	ADP	IN	_	17	case	_	_
17	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nmod	_	SpaceAfter=No
18	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overload** | to-infinitive |  | something |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent something=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  |  |  | put *property* | tree rules |

<!-- .note -->
One row per clause the reader finds. «not said here»: a role filled from the clause above. «roles by»: a VerbNet class and frame when one fits the verb, else the reader's rules on the tree.

## Meaning 2 {#m2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To overload a plug or electric circuit is to use too many machines on it, which can cause a fire.

<!-- fold The tree, 20 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overload:m2:1
# text = To overload a plug or electric circuit is to use too many machines on it, which can cause a fire.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	overload	overload	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	plug	plug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	or	or	CCONJ	CC	_	7	cc	_	_
6	electric	electric	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
7	circuit	circuit	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	conj	_	_
8	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	10	cop	_	_
9	to	to	PART	TO	_	10	mark	_	_
10	use	use	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
11	too	too	ADV	RB	_	12	advmod	_	_
12	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	13	amod	_	_
13	machines	machine	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	10	obj	_	_
14	on	on	ADP	IN	_	15	case	_	_
15	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	10	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
16	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	19	punct	_	_
17	which	which	PRON	WDT	PronType=Rel	19	nsubj	_	_
18	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	19	aux	_	_
19	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	10	advcl	_	_
20	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	21	det	_	_
21	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	19	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
22	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	10	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overload** | to-infinitive |  | a plug or electric circuit |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent plug=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  |  | circuit |  | use *property* | tree rules |
| 3 | **cause** | can |  | a fire |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition fire=Patient |

## Meaning 3 {#m3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
An overload is too much of something, more than can be handled: information overload.

<!-- fold The tree, 14 words -->
```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overload:m3:1
# text = An overload is too much of something, more than can be handled: information overload.
1	An	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	overload	overload	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	5	cop	_	_
4	too	too	ADV	RB	_	5	advmod	_	_
5	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	nmod	_	_
6	of	of	ADP	IN	_	7	case	_	_
7	something	something	PRON	NN	Number=Sing|PronType=Ind	5	nsubj	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	,	,	PUNCT	,	_	9	punct	_	_
9	more	more	ADJ	JJR	Degree=Cmp	7	amod	_	_
10	than	than	ADP	IN	_	9	fixed	_	_
11	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	13	aux	_	_
12	be	be	AUX	VB	VerbForm=Inf	13	aux:pass	_	_
13	handled	handle	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	:	:	PUNCT	:	_	16	punct	_	_
15	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	16	compound	_	_
16	overload	overload	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	13	conj	_	SpaceAfter=No
17	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	13	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **is** | present | something |  |  |  |  | much *property* | tree rules |
| 2 | **handle** | can · passive |  | a overload |  |  |  |  | vn hold-15.1 «NP V NP»: subject=Theme |

## Meaning 4 {#m4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
To overload a person is to give them too much work.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overload:m4:1
# text = To overload a person is to give them too much work.
1	To	to	PART	TO	_	2	mark	_	_
2	overload	overload	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	7	advcl	_	_
3	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
4	person	person	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	2	obj	_	_
5	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	7	cop	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	give	give	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
8	them	they	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=3|PronType=Prs	7	iobj	_	_
9	too	too	ADV	RB	_	10	advmod	_	_
10	much	much	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	11	amod	_	_
11	work	work	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overload** | to-infinitive |  | a person |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent person=Theme |
| 2 | **is** | present |  |  | them *= they* |  |  | give *property* | tree rules |

## Example 1 {#x1}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Don't overload the washing machine.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overload:x1:1
# text = Don't overload the washing machine.
1	Do	do	AUX	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	3	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
2	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	3	advmod	_	_
3	overload	overload	VERB	VB	Mood=Imp|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	the	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	6	det	_	_
5	washing	washing	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	compound	_	_
6	machine	machine	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **overload** | imperative · do-support | you *not said here* | the washing machine |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent machine=Theme |

## Example 2 {#x2}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Overloading a plug socket can start a fire.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overload:x2:1
# text = Overloading a plug socket can start a fire.
1	Overloading	overload	VERB	VBG	VerbForm=Ger	6	csubj	_	_
2	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	4	det	_	_
3	plug	plug	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	compound	_	_
4	socket	socket	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	1	obj	_	_
5	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	6	aux	_	_
6	start	start	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
7	a	a	DET	DT	Definite=Ind|PronType=Art	8	det	_	_
8	fire	fire	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overload** | gerund |  | a plug socket |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent socket=Theme |
| 2 | **start** | can | Overloading | a fire |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Agent fire=Eventuality |

## Example 3 {#x3}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The boat was overloaded and began to sink.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overload:x3:1
# text = The boat was overloaded and began to sink.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	boat	boat	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	overloaded	overload	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	6	cc	_	_
6	began	begin	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	conj	_	_
7	to	to	PART	TO	_	8	mark	_	_
8	sink	sink	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	6	xcomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
9	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **overload** | past · passive |  | the boat |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7 «NP V NP.theme»: subject=Theme |
| 2 | **begin** | past |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn begin-55.1-1-1 «NP V S\_INF»: agent=Agent clause=Eventuality |
| 3 | **sink** | to-infinitive |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn other\_cos-45.4 «NP.patient V»: agent=Patient |

## Example 4 {#x4}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The lift says «maximum 8 people» so it isn't overloaded.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overload:x4:1
# text = The lift says «maximum 8 people» so it isn't overloaded.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	lift	lift	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	3	nsubj	_	_
3	says	say	VERB	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
4	«	«	PUNCT	``	_	7	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	maximum	maximum	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	7	amod	_	_
6	8	8	NUM	CD	NumForm=Digit|NumType=Card	7	nummod	_	_
7	people	people	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
8	»	»	PUNCT	''	_	7	punct	_	_
9	so	so	ADV	RB	_	13	advmod	_	_
10	it	it	PRON	PRP	Case=Nom|Gender=Neut|Number=Sing|Person=3|PronType=Prs	13	nsubj:pass	_	_
11	is	be	AUX	VBZ	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Fin	13	aux:pass	_	SpaceAfter=No
12	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	13	advmod	_	_
13	overloaded	overload	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	3	ccomp	_	SpaceAfter=No
14	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	3	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **say** *speech: assert* | present | the lift |  |  |  |  |  | vn say-37.7-1-1 «NP V that S»: agent=Agent clause=Topic |
| 2 | **not** **overload** | present · passive |  | lift |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7 «NP V NP.theme»: subject=Theme |

## Example 5 {#x5}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Too many pop-ups gave me information overload.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overload:x5:1
# text = Too many pop-ups gave me information overload.
1	Too	too	ADV	RB	_	2	advmod	_	_
2	many	many	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
3	pop	pop	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	compound	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	-	-	PUNCT	HYPH	_	3	punct	_	SpaceAfter=No
5	ups	up	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	6	nsubj	_	_
6	gave	give	VERB	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Plur|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	0	root	_	_
7	me	I	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Sing|Person=1|PronType=Prs	6	iobj	_	_
8	information	information	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	9	compound	_	_
9	overload	overload	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	6	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	6	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **give** | past | many pop ups | information overload | me |  |  |  | vn give-13.1-1 «NP V NP-Dative NP»: agent=Agent i=Recipient overload=Theme |

## Example 6 {#x6}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The teacher didn't want to overload us with homework.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overload:x6:1
# text = The teacher didn't want to overload us with homework.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	teacher	teacher	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	5	nsubj	_	_
3	did	do	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	5	aux	_	SpaceAfter=No
4	n't	not	PART	RB	Polarity=Neg	5	advmod	_	_
5	want	want	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
6	to	to	PART	TO	_	7	mark	_	_
7	overload	overload	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	5	xcomp	_	_
8	us	we	PRON	PRP	Case=Acc|Number=Plur|Person=1|PronType=Prs	7	obj	_	_
9	with	with	ADP	IN	_	10	case	_	_
10	homework	homework	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obl	_	SpaceAfter=No
11	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	5	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **not** **want** | past · do-support | the teacher |  |  |  |  |  | vn want-32.1-1-1 «NP V NP S\_INF»: agent=Pivot clause=Theme |
| 2 | **overload** *not said to happen* | to-infinitive | the teacher *not said here* |  | us |  |  | with homework | vn spray-9.7 «NP V NP.destination PP.theme»: agent=Agent we=Destination with homework=Theme |

## Example 7 {#x7}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
Loud noise and bright lights can cause sensory overload.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overload:x7:1
# text = Loud noise and bright lights can cause sensory overload.
1	Loud	loud	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	2	amod	_	_
2	noise	noise	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	nsubj	_	_
3	and	and	CCONJ	CC	_	5	cc	_	_
4	bright	bright	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	5	amod	_	_
5	lights	light	NOUN	NNS	Number=Plur	2	conj	_	_
6	can	can	AUX	MD	VerbForm=Fin	7	aux	_	_
7	cause	cause	VERB	VB	VerbForm=Inf	0	root	_	_
8	sensory	sensory	ADJ	JJ	Degree=Pos	9	amod	_	_
9	overload	overload	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	7	obj	_	SpaceAfter=No
10	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	7	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **cause** | can | Loud noise and bright lights | sensory overload |  |  |  |  | vn engender-27.1-1 «NP V NP»: agent=Precondition overload=Patient |

## Example 8 {#x8}

<!-- .ven lang=en -->
The truck was fined for overloading.

```conllu
# sent_id = dict:school:overload:x8:1
# text = The truck was fined for overloading.
1	The	the	DET	DT	Definite=Def|PronType=Art	2	det	_	_
2	truck	truck	NOUN	NN	Number=Sing	4	nsubj:pass	_	_
3	was	be	AUX	VBD	Mood=Ind|Number=Sing|Person=3|Tense=Past|VerbForm=Fin	4	aux:pass	_	_
4	fined	fine	VERB	VBN	Tense=Past|VerbForm=Part|Voice=Pass	0	root	_	_
5	for	for	SCONJ	IN	_	6	mark	_	_
6	overloading	overload	VERB	VBG	Tense=Pres|VerbForm=Part	4	advcl	_	SpaceAfter=No
7	.	.	PUNCT	.	_	4	punct	_	_
```

<!-- .fr -->
| # | verb | tense, mood | who | what, whom | to whom | where | when | other | roles by |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | **fine** | past · passive |  | the truck |  |  |  |  | vn bill-54.5-1 «NP V NP.recipient»: subject=Recipient |
| 2 | **overload** | gerund |  |  |  |  |  |  | vn spray-9.7 «NP V NP.theme»: agent=Agent |

<!-- div src -->

**Text:** the school dictionary of Mova's schools (`world/data/dictionary-schools/`), written for Mova. **Trees:** Mova's own parse — the `en` model on the CPU, when the site is built — not checked by a teacher; they may be wrong. **Frames:** Mova's frames reader (`prag`), each meaning and example read on its own. Elamur Cosmic License.

<!-- /div -->

<!-- pn -->
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