Overhead

adv. from above; above; over the head; in the sky

adj. of general expenses; general; positioned or directed over the head

n. general expenses; manufacturing and business expenses; information which is attached to a message on a network in order to ensure error-free transmission to the correct destination (Computers)

Overhead may be: Overhead (business), the ongoing operating costs of running a businessEngineering overhead, ancillary design features required by a component of a deviceComputational overhead, ancillary computation required by an algorithm or programOverhead wire, for power transmissionOverhead cable, for signal transmissionOverhead projector, a display systemOverhead join, in air traffic controlOverhead cam, a mechanical device
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Noun
1. the expense of maintaining property (e.g., paying property taxes and utilities and insurance); it does not include depreciation or the cost of financing or income taxes
(synonym) operating expense, operating cost, budget items
(hypernym) expense, disbursal, disbursement
(part-holonym) operating budget
(classification) tax, taxation, revenue enhancement
2. (computer science) the processing time required by a device prior to the execution of a command
(synonym) command processing overhead time, command processing overhead, command overhead
(hypernym) processing time
(part-holonym) access time
(classification) computer science, computing
3. (computer science) the disk space required for non-data information (used for location and timing)
(synonym) disk overhead
(hypernym) disk space, disc space
(classification) computer science, computing
4. a transparency for use with an overhead projector
(synonym) viewgraph
(hypernym) foil, transparency
5. (nautical) the top surface of an enclosed space on a ship
(hypernym) ceiling
(part-holonym) cabin
(classification) seafaring, navigation, sailing
6. a hard return hitting the tennis ball above your head
(synonym) smash
(hypernym) return
Adjective
1. located or originating from above; "an overhead crossing"
(antonym) surface
(similar) elevated
Adverb
1. above your head; in the sky; "planes were flying overhead"
2. above the head; over the head; "bring the legs together overhead"

(adv.)
Aloft; above; in or attached to the ceiling or roof; in the story or upon the floor above; in the zenith.
  

1. Resources (in computing usually processing time or storage space) consumed for purposes which are incidental to, but necessary to, the main one. Overheads are usually quantifiable "costs" of some kind.
Examples: The overheads in running a business include the cost of heating the building. Keeping a program running all the time eliminates the overhead of loading and initialising it for each transaction. Turning a subroutine into inline code eliminates the call and return time overhead for each execution but introduces space overheads.
2. <communications> information, such as control, routing, and error checking characters, that is transmitted along with the user data. It also includes information such as network status or operational instructions, network routing information, and retransmissions of user data received in error.
3. Overhead transparencies or "slides" (usually 8-1/2" x 11") that are projected to an audience via an overhead (flatbed) projector.
(1997-09-01)