overflow

An overflow is when too much liquid or energy spills out of a container or system.

When we talk about an overflow, we usually mean that something has gotten too full and can't hold any more. Imagine filling up your cup with water at the sink – if it gets too full, the water starts to spill over onto the counter. This is what happens when there's an overflow: things get too crowded or too much, and then extra stuff just pours out.

In computing, people might talk about a website having an overflow issue if it can't handle all the visitors at once – in this case, they're talking about a kind of energy overload that crashes the site. In architecture, buildings often have overflow areas like hallways or rooms off to the side where extra people can go when main spaces get too full.