übergreifen
Translation
to spread, to encroach, to overlap
Examples
Das Feuer griff auf das Nachbarhaus über.
The fire spread to the neighbouring house.
Die Krise greift auf andere Länder über.
The crisis is spreading to other countries.
Grammar Patterns
to spread to ((sth.)) auf ((et4)) übergreifen The crisis is spreading to other countries.
Similar Words
Synonyms: sich ausbreiten (to spread out), sich verbreiten (to disseminate)
Etymology
From 'über' (over, across) and 'greifen' (to grab, seize). It literally means 'to grab over' or 'to reach across' a boundary.
Memory Tips
Imagine a fire 'grabbing over' a wall to the next building, which helps remember the meaning 'to spread'.