overturn

- 4 dictionary results

o⋅ver⋅turn

[v. oh-ver-turn; n. oh-ver-turn]

–verb (used with object)

1.	to destroy the power of; overthrow; defeat; vanquish.

2.	to turn over on its side, face, or back; upset: to overturn a vase.

–verb (used without object)

3.	to turn on its side, face, or back; capsize: The boat overturned during the storm.

–noun

4.	the act of overturning.

5.	the state of being overturned.

Origin:
1175–1225; ME; see over-, turn

Related forms:

o⋅ver⋅turn⋅a⋅ble, adjective

Synonyms:
1. conquer. 2. See upset.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Link To overturn

o·ver·turn (ō'vər-tûrn')

v. o·ver·turned, o·ver·turn·ing, o·ver·turns

v. tr.

To cause to turn over or capsize; upset.
1. To cause the ruin or destruction of; overthrow. See Synonyms at overthrow.
2. Law To invalidate or reverse (a decision) by legal means: "his continuing legal battles to overturn a draft-evasion conviction" (Robert Lipsyte).

v. intr.
To turn over or capsize.
n. (ō'vər-tûrn')

The act or process of overturning.
The state of having been overturned.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

overturn (v.)

c.1225, of a wheel, "to rotate, roll over," from over + turn (v.). Attested from c.1300 in general trans. sense "to throw over violently;" fig. meaning "to ruin, destroy" is from c.1374. Of judicial decisions, "to reverse," it is attested from 1969.

Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: over·turn
Function: transitive verb
: OVERRULE

Search another word or see overturn on Thesaurus | Reference

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