overtone

noun

over·​tone ˈō-vər-ˌtōn 

1

a

: one of the higher tones produced simultaneously with the fundamental and that with the fundamental comprise a complex musical tone : harmonic sense 1a

b

: harmonic sense 2

2

: the color of the light reflected (as by a paint)

3

: a secondary effect, quality, or meaning : suggestion, connotation

Examples of overtone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Several information experts said that Mr. Trump’s executive orders have authoritarian overtones, reminiscent of when Russia cloned Wikipedia, an online encyclopedia, and stripped it of unflattering material. —Tiffany Hsu, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2025

The trip was billed as a personal visit, but the president’s social media posts about it had strong political overtones. —Annie Nova, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2025

Yet for a monarch all too accustomed to Middle East crises, the Oval Office meeting Tuesday was one of the most pivotal of his 25-year reign, despite the friendly overtones. —Taylor Luck, The Christian Science Monitor, 11 Feb. 2025

This is a romantic day, and relations with others, even casual interactions, might have a flirtatious overtone. —Georgia Nicols, Denver Post, 27 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1867, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Rhymes for overtone

• acetone
• anglophone
• baritone
• bourguignon
• buspirone
• chaperon
• chaperone
• cobblestone
• collarbone
• cornerstone
• cortisone
• dictaphone

Kids Definition

overtone

noun

over·​tone -ˌtōn 

1

: any of a series of higher tones related to and produced along with a base tone that make up the whole sound of a musical tone

2

: an accompanying result, quality, or meaning : suggestion

the words carried an overtone of menace

Medical Definition

overtone

noun

over·​tone ˈō-vər-ˌtōn 

: one of the higher tones produced simultaneously with the fundamental and that with the fundamental comprise a complex musical tone