Operator overloading in C++ serves two purposes: it gives new meaning to existing C++ operators (like redefining what '+' does for custom objects) AND it makes C++ operators work with user-defined objects (enabling expressions like obj1 + obj2). Option A captures the definitional aspect, while option B captures the functional capability. Therefore, operator overloading encompasses both - it's both giving new meanings to operators and enabling them to work with objects beyond primitive types.