overhead

[adv. oh-ver-hed; adj., n. oh-ver-hed] /adv. ˈoʊ vərˈhɛd; adj., n. ˈoʊ vərˌhɛd/
adverb
1.
over one's head; aloft; up in the air or sky, especially near the zenith:
There was a cloud overhead.
2.
so as to be completely submerged or deeply involved:
to plunge overhead in water; to sink overhead in debt.
adjective
3.
situated, operating, or passing above, aloft, or over the head:
an overhead sprinkler system.
4.
of or pertaining to the general cost of running a business:
overhead expenses; an overhead charge.
noun
5.
the general, fixed cost of running a business, as rent, lighting, and heating expenses, which cannot be charged or attributed to a specific product or part of the work operation.
6.
Accounting. that part of manufacturing costs for which cost per unit produced is not readily assignable.
7.
(in a hoistway) the distance between the last floor level served and the beam supporting the hoisting sheaves or machinery.
8.
(in racket sports) a stroke in which the ball or shuttlecock is hit with a downward motion from above the head; smash.
9.
an overhead compartment, shelf, etc.:
Pillows are in the overhead above each passenger's seat.
10.
Also called overhead shot. Movies, Television. a shot in which the camera is positioned above the actors, especially directly overhead.
11.
a ceiling light in a room:
Turn off the overheads when you leave.
12.
Also called overhead projector. a projector capable of projecting images above and behind the person operating it, thus allowing a lecturer or speaker to remain facing the audience while using it.
13.
Also called overhead projection. a picture or image projected in this manner:
a lecture enhanced with overheads.
Origin
1425-75; late Middle English; see over-, head
Related forms
nonoverhead, noun, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for overheads

overheads

/ˈəʊvəˌhɛdz/
plural noun
1.
business expenses, such as rent, that are not directly attributable to any department or product and can therefore be assigned only arbitrarily Also called burden, fixed costs, indirect costs, oncost Compare prime cost

overhead

adjective (ˈəʊvəˌhɛd)
1.
situated or operating above head height or some other reference level
2.
(prenominal) inclusive: the overhead price included meals
adverb (ˌəʊvəˈhɛd)
3.
over or above head height, esp in the sky
noun (ˈəʊvəˌhɛd)
4.
  1. a stroke in racket games played from above head height
  2. (as modifier): an overhead smash
5.
(nautical) the interior lining above one's head below decks in a vessel
6.
short for overhead door
7.
(modifier) of, concerned with, or resulting from overheads: overhead costs
See also overheads
Word Origin and History for overheads

overhead

1530s, "above one's head" (adv.), from over- + head. The adjective is attested from 1874. As a noun, short for overhead costs, etc., it is attested from 1914.

overheads in Culture

overhead definition


All costs of running a business other than wages paid to production workers or payments for raw material to be used in production. Overhead includes the cost of renting or leasing a store in which business is transacted, the cost of heating a factory, and similar expenses.