overgrowth

[ oh-ver-grohth ]

noun

1. a growth overspreading or covering something.
2. excessive growth:

   to prune a young tree so as to prevent overgrowth.

Word History and Origins

Origin of overgrowth¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; over- + growth

Example Sentences

The “Only Murders in the Building” star and Rare Beauty cosmetics founder slammed speculation about her weight on TikTok, revealing that she lives with small intestinal bacterial overgrowth.

From Los Angeles Times

Deprived of a primary herbivore, the reefs succumbed to algal overgrowth and never fully recovered.

From Science Magazine

Herzog’s adaptation prunes away the expository overgrowth of Ibsen’s satiric drama.

From Los Angeles Times

Now Duke Health researchers have identified the likely cause -- an overgrowth of nerve cells in the bladder.

From Science Daily

Mast cells release chemicals called nerve growth factor, which drive overgrowth and increase sensitivity of nerves.

From Science Daily