01 v. t. & i. To drive too hard, or far, or beyond strength.
-
1.
To drive too hard, or far, or beyond strength.
Entry
4 senses · 2 variants
Webster, 1913
Overdrive
02 n. A gearing device which causes the drive shaft of an automobile or other machine to rotate at a speed greater than that of the engine crankshaft.
-
1.
A gearing device which causes the drive shaft of an automobile or other machine to rotate at a speed greater than that of the engine crankshaft.(Machinery)
-
2.
The gear setting of a motor vehicle at which the overdrive{1} is operative; as, cruising at 80 mph in overdrive.(Automotive)
-
3.
A state of unusually intense activity; as, when they got their new supercomputer, their research kicked into overdrive; one look at her made his heart jump into overdrive; -- used mostly of the activities of persons or groups.[fig.]