the sedimentary rock material that covers coal seams, mineral veins, etc
Derived forms
overburdensome (ˌoverˈburdensome)
adjective
overburden in American English
(ˌoʊvərˈbɜrdən; for n. ˈoʊvərˌbɜrdən)
verb transitive
1.
to burden oppressively; weigh down
noun
2.
something that overburdens
3. Geology
soil, rock, etc. that is covering or overlying a useful deposit, as of ore
Examples of 'overburden' in a sentence
overburden
Neither are exactly overburdened with debt.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
It is also overburdened with debt.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I'M astounded that councils stand to lose hundreds of millions but we are warned losses may be recovered from already overburdened council taxpayers.
The Sun (2008)
For example, remedies were sought for the by now manifestly apparent shortcomings of an overburdened legal system.
de Haan, Willem The Politics of Redress - crime, punishment and penal abolition (1989)
City critics say the chain is overburdened with debt, has failed to spend enough on its stores and regular discounting has damaged the brand.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Friends have moved away, got married and so on and she feels overburdened at work at times and says she thinks about handing in her notice.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The latter had little choice but to give responsibility for labor relations to already overburdened personnel officers, budget officers, or executive assistants.
Tompkins, Jonathan Human Resource Management in Government (1995)