[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/overdose/)

[dictionaries](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [English](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/) / [O](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/o/) / overdose

# overdose

noun (an overdose, overdoses); verb (overdose, overdoses, overdosed, overdosing)

«overdose» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. An overdose is too much of a medicine or drug taken at once, which can make someone very ill or kill them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overdose/#m1)
2. To overdose is to take such a dangerous amount. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overdose/#m2)
3. (informal) An overdose of something is too much of it, like an overdose of sugar or TV. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overdose/#m3)

### In the lessons

In health and safety lessons: only take medicine an adult gives you, as the label says; an overdose is an emergency (call 999, 911, 000 or 111, 112). In jokes: «an overdose of homework».

### Examples

- Taking too many tablets can cause an overdose. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overdose/#x1)
- If someone takes an overdose, call an ambulance at once. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overdose/#x2)
- Keep medicines away from small children to prevent an overdose. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overdose/#x3)
- The label shows the right dose so you don't overdose. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overdose/#x4)
- I had an overdose of chocolate at the party. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overdose/#x5)
- Even vitamins can be dangerous in an overdose. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overdose/#x6)

### Note

Plural: overdoses. Short form: OD (informal). Safety: never take medicine on your own; follow the dose. In maths, the dose is an amount; an overdose is more than the safe amount.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «overdose» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/O/overdose/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«overdose» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/overdose.html) on Mova free.