overture

¹over·ture

noun
\ˈō-və(r)-ˌchu̇r, -chər, -ˌtyu̇r, -ˌtu̇r\

Definition of OVERTURE

1

a : an initiative toward agreement or action : proposal b : something introductory : prelude

2

a : the orchestral introduction to a musical dramatic work b : an orchestral concert piece written especially as a single movement in sonata form

Examples of OVERTURE

1. The government has made a significant peace overture by opening the door to negotiation.
2. <the parade down Main Street served as the overture for a weekend of fun and festivities>

Origin of OVERTURE

Middle English, literally, opening, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *opertura, alteration of Latin apertura — more at aperture

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to OVERTURE

Synonyms: curtain-raiser, prelude, preamble, preliminary, prologue (also prolog), warm-up

Related Words: countdown, run-up [chiefly British]; lead-in; kickoff, start

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Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue

Rhymes with OVERTURE

amateur, aperture, armature, blackamoor, carrefour, carte du jour, coinsure, commissure, confiture, connoisseur, coverture, curvature, cynosure, embouchure, epicure, filature, forfeiture, garniture, geniture, green-manure, haute couture, immature, insecure, ligature, manicure, paramour, pedicure, plat du jour, portraiture, prelature, premature, quadrature, reassure, Reaumur, reinsure, saboteur, sepulture, sequitur, signature, simon-pure, sinecure, soup du jour, tablature, temperature, to be sure, troubadour, white amur, Yom Kippur