Meaning

6 senses
  1. (often, plural)An approach or proposal made to initiate communication, establish a relationship etc.

    overture of friendship

    Angebot, Annäherungsversuch, Offerte

    предложе́ниеpredložénije, инициати́ваiniciatíva

  2. (Scotland)A motion placed before a legislative body, such as the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

  3. A musical introduction to a longer piece of music or a dramatic work (such as a play, an opera, or a motion picture).

    Ouvertüre

    увертю́раuvertjúra

    увертю́раuvertjúra

  4. A medley of themes from a larger work, such as an opera or musical, typically played at the beginning but sometimes played at any part of the work or performed as a standalone piece.

    orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio

  5. (obsolete)An opening; a recess or chamber.

    c. 1612', George Chapman, A Hymne to Hermes the cave's inmost overture

  6. (obsolete)Disclosure; discovery; revelation.

Examples

4 sentences
  1. The overture contains all of the main themes.

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  2. A majority of two thirds is required to ratify an overture.

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  3. There have been previous attempts to end the conflict, but regional experts say the new peace overtures look promising.

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  4. Tom did his best to resist Mary's sexual overtures.

    deTom versuchte mit aller Kraft, Marias sexuellen Annäherungsversuchen zu widerstehen.

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Translations

9 languages
Українська
By meaning 1
musical introduction:
Русский
By meaning 2
approach:
musical introduction:
Deutsch
By meaning 2
approach:
musical introduction:

Origin

From Middle English overture, from Anglo-Norman, Middle French overture, from Old French o

From Middle English overture, from Anglo-Norman, Middle French overture, from Old French overture, from Latin apertūra. Doublet of aperture.

Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source

Forms

plural: overtures
Singularoverture
Pluralovertures

regular

Synonyms

5 synonyms
Close in meaning

Antonyms

1 antonyms
opening of a piece of music:coda

Word family

1 related words
Relatedovert

See also

neighbours in the dictionary
overture — meaning, examples, forms, synonyms | Krumeto