overlap

词义解析

本义指两个物体在空间上部分覆盖，如瓦片叠放。引申为时间、概念、责任等抽象事物的部分重合或共存。义项间由具体到抽象：空间重叠 → 时间重叠 → 范围或职责的部分相同。

字源分析

由 over-（在…之上）和 lap（折叠、包裹）构成，原意“折叠使部分覆盖”。记忆：想象两张纸部分相叠，即 overlap。

常见语境

学术写作中用于描述研究领域或概念的交集；商务邮件中表示职责或时间冲突；日常口语中常指时间安排冲突或意见部分相同；新闻报道中用于事件时间或范围重叠；法律文本中指条款或管辖权部分重合。正式场合语气中性，口语中更随意。

用法须知

及物动词，后接宾语，如 overlap the edges；也可不及物，如 The two circles overlap。常见句型：A overlaps with B；There is overlap between A and B。易错点：勿与 overtake（追上）混淆；overlap 不用于被动语态表示“被重叠”，但可说 be overlapped by。

同义词区别

与 coincide 相比，coincide 强调完全一致或同时发生，overlap 仅指部分重合；与 intersect 相比，intersect 强调交叉点，overlap 强调覆盖区域；与 duplicate 相比，duplicate 指完全复制，overlap 仅部分相同。

易错提醒

语域中性，适用于正式与日常场合。无褒贬色彩。常见误用：将 overlap 与 overtake 混淆；或用 overlap 表示“完全覆盖”，实际应为 cover。

高频搭配

• overlap with
• overlap between A and B
• considerable overlap
• significant overlap
• overlap in time
• overlap of responsibilities
• avoid overlap

用法示例

1. The two circles overlap in the middle.这两个圆在中间部分重叠。
2. Our work schedules overlap, so we can carpool.我们的工作时间有重叠，所以可以拼车。
3. The responsibilities of the two departments overlap significantly.这两个部门的职责有大量重叠。
4. The study found an overlap between poverty and poor health.研究发现贫困与健康不佳之间存在交集。
5. The tiles overlap to prevent water from leaking through.瓦片相互搭接以防止漏水。