Definition

To extract milk from an animal excessively, which can be harmful to the animal.

Example

The farmer was careful not to overmilk the cows to keep them healthy.

Tense Forms

Conversation

Did you hear about the farm that overmilked their cows?

Yeah, I read it caused some serious health issues for the animals.

I can't believe they would overmilk them that much.

It's really sad; they should have known better.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

This word originates from Old English, where 'ofer' means over or excessive, and 'milc' (related to 'milk') refers to the liquid produced by mammals. The word 'overmilk' means to excessively milk or to milk beyond normal limits.

Memory Tip

Think of 'over' meaning too much and 'milk' as the liquid from mammals — this helps you remember that 'overmilk' means to milk excessively.

Visually Confused Words