Located, functioning, or originating from above.

上面的,高架的:位于上部的,在上方运转的或来源于上部的

Of or relating to the operating expenses of a business.

(费用等)经常的,管理的:属于或关于企业运转经费的

n.(名词)

The operating expenses of a business, including the costs of rent, utilities, interior decoration, and taxes, exclusive of labor and materials.

管理费用,经常费用:企业的管理费用,包括租金、设备、内部装修及缴税等的花销,但不包括工资和购买原料的费用

Nautical The top surface in an enclosed space of a ship.

【航海】 顶板:密闭的船舱的顶层

Something, such as a light fixture, that is located above head height.

顶部装置:安装在头顶的固定装置,如电灯装置

Sports A stroke in a game, such as tennis or badminton, that is made with a hard downward motion from above the head.

【体育运动】 过顶扣球:如网球或羽毛球比赛中的一击,伴随着从头顶猛烈向下的动作

An overhead projector.

头顶投影机

adv.(副词)

AHD:[½”v…r-hµd“]

Over or above the level of the head; high or higher up:

在头顶,在上面;向上或更向上:

look overhead.

向上看 

看过字典的解释,还是看看一篇很好的文章:

Overhead in Packet Networks

” http://www.tamos.net/~rhay/wp/overhead/overhead.htm

“净(负)荷是相对开销而言的。因为互联网是分层结构,数据自上向下转换时,每层都会加上一定的开销(overhead),而原来的数据就被称为净荷(payload)。对于 IP 来说,一个 IP 包由头和数据组成,头即是开销,而后面的数据即是 IP 包的净荷。当然 IP 的净荷实际上也包括上层(如 TCP、UDP 等)的开销,而整个 IP 包又是其下层(如以太网 MAC)的净荷。”

overhead应该是一个很灵活的概念。