OVERHEAD Meaning and
Definition
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Overhead is a noun that refers to the fixed expenses or costs incurred by a business, organization, or individual that are not directly related to the production or delivery of goods or services. These costs are typically ongoing or continuous, such as rent, utilities, insurance, salaries, and administrative expenses. This term is commonly used in finance, accounting, and business contexts.
In a business setting, overhead expenses are essential for the operation of the company but are not directly tied to its core activities. They are necessary for the smooth functioning of the business and can be incurred whether or not there is any production or sales activity. Overhead costs are usually allocated to various departments or cost centers to determine the indirect costs associated with each unit of production or service rendered.
Overhead can also refer to the space above one's head or the area directly above a specific location. It can be used to describe the ceiling or upper part of a room or structure.
Additionally, overhead is sometimes used as a verb, meaning to observe, supervise, or manage from a position of authority or height. In this sense, it indicates a position that allows a broader or more comprehensive view of the situation at hand.
Overall, overhead refers to fixed expenses, the upper space in a room or structure, or the act of supervising or managing from a higher position, depending on the context in which it is used.
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• Above; aloft; in the story or ceiling above; without distinction.
• In Scot., expressing the whole without any separation of parts, as overhead flour.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Top Common Misspellings for OVERHEAD *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for OVERHEAD
Etymology of OVERHEAD
The word "overhead" has multiple origins.
First, in the sense of "above one's head" or "high above", it dates back to Middle English. It is a combination of the prefix "over-" (meaning "above" or "beyond") and the noun "head". This usage can be traced to the Old English word "oferheafod", where "ofer" meant "above" and "heafod" meant "head".
Second, in the sense of "expenses" or "costs incurred in running a business", the term comes from a nautical origin. During the 19th century, the various costs involved in operating a ship were referred to as "overhead expenses" since they were incurred above the ship's hull. This later extended to other business-related expenses when the term was adapted by the business community.
Similar spelling words for OVERHEAD
- overdraw,
- overheat,
- overdress,
- overdue,
- overdo,
- overdressed,
- overheated,
- overeat,
- ovrette,
- overheating,
- overdrive.
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