overwound
Definition
- Adjective:
- Wound too tightly: "overwound" describes a mechanical device, especially a spring or clockwork mechanism, that has been wound beyond its proper limit, often causing damage or malfunction.
Usage Examples
- (The spring had been wound too tightly, preventing normal operation.)
- (Avoid winding it beyond the safe limit.)
- (The mechanism became damaged from excessive winding.)
Advanced Usage
"To become overwound": to reach a state of excessive tension in a spring or coil.
- If you keep winding the clock, it will become overwound and stop. (The spring will be stretched beyond its capacity.)
"Overwound as a metaphor": sometimes used figuratively to mean overly tense or stressed.
- After the long meeting, his nerves felt overwound like a tight spring. (He was extremely anxious and on edge.)
Variants and Related Words
Overwind (verb): to wind something (e.g., a spring or clock) too much.
- Don't overwind the watch; it can damage the gears. (Wind it only to the recommended limit.)
Overwinding (noun): the act or result of winding excessively.
- Overwinding is a common cause of failure in antique clocks. (Excessive winding leads to mechanical problems.)
Synonyms
- Tight-wound: wound too tightly (informal).
- Over-tensioned: having too much tension (technical term).
Related Idioms
- "Wound up too tight": a colloquial phrase meaning very tense or stressed, similar to "overwound."
- He's so wound up too tight about the exam that he can't sleep. (He is extremely anxious.)
Phrasal Verbs
- Wind up (as a related concept): to tighten a spring or mechanism.
- She wound up the old clock every night. (She turned the key to tighten the spring.)