different between overwrite vs replace

English

Etymology

From over- +? write.

Pronunciation

Verb

overwrite (third-person singular simple present overwrites, present participle overwriting, simple past overwrote, past participle overwritten)

1. (transitive, computing) To destroy (older data) by recording new data over it.

   I accidentally saved my unwanted changes and overwrote the version of the document I wanted to keep.

2. (transitive) To cover in writing; to write over the top of.
3. (transitive, intransitive) To write too much.
   • 2013, Richard Rudin, Trevor Ibbotson, Introduction to Journalism

     Many trainees consider that by increasing the length of the piece they will construct a good feature. This is often not the case and overwriting can lead to vague and muddled features that confuse the reader and ultimately lose their interest.

4. (transitive, intransitive) To write in an unnecessarily complicated or florid way; to produce purple prose.
   • 1954, Edwin H. Ford, Edwin Emery, Highlights in the History of the American Press: A Book of Readings, U of Minnesota Press ?ISBN, page 367

     The Times of course has to pay the price of encyclopaedism by being often dreadfully overwritten, with long paragraphs connected by motley conjunctions.

   • 1986, David Novarr, The Lines of Life: Theories of Biography, 1880-1970, Purdue University Press ?ISBN, page 162

     He overwrites constantly, but his detailed and understated one-paragraph description of Monroe's apartment in New York (pp. 216-18) injects high voltage into the de casibus tradition.

   • 1989, Michael O'Neill, The human mind's imaginings: conflict and achievement in Shelley's poetry, Oxford University Press, USA

     That said, the passage just looked at anticipates rather than participates in greatness. It is too adjectival, a stylistic flaw which suggests an insistence more apparent in the ensuing lines (182-91), where one is torn between thinking that Shelley is overwriting and that he is staying close to a feverish intensity.

Translations

Noun

overwrite (plural overwrites)

1. (computing) The operation of destroying older data by recording new data over it.

English

Etymology

re- +? place

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /???ple?s/
• Rhymes: -e?s

Verb

replace (third-person singular simple present replaces, present participle replacing, simple past and past participle replaced)

1. (transitive) To restore to a former place, position, condition, etc.; to put back
   • 1622, Francis Bacon, History of the Reign of King Henry VII

     The earl...was replaced in his government.
2. (transitive) To refund; to repay; to pay back

3. (transitive) To supply or substitute an equivalent for

4. (transitive) to take over the position or role from.

   • Next Wednesday, four women and 15 men on the Crown Nominations Commission will gather for two days of prayer and horsetrading to replace Rowan Williams as archbishop of Canterbury.

5. (transitive) To take the place of; to be used instead of
   • 1845, William Whewell, The Elements of Morality: Including Polity

     This duty of right intention does not replace or supersede the duty of consideration.

6. (transitive) To demolish (a building) and build an updated form of that building in its place.
7. (transitive, rare) To place again.
8. (transitive, rare) To put in a new or different place.

Synonyms

• (to supply or substitute an equivalent for): exchange, swap; See also Thesaurus:switch

Derived terms

• replaceable
• replacee
• replacement
• replacer
• replacing switch
• replacive

See also

• eliminate

Translations

References

replace in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.

Anagrams

• percale

French

Verb

replace

1. first-person singular present indicative of replacer
2. third-person singular present indicative of replacer
3. first-person singular present subjunctive of replacer
4. third-person singular present subjunctive of replacer
5. second-person singular imperative of replacer