overture

o·ver·ture  (vr-chr)

n.

1. Music

a. An instrumental composition intended especially as an introduction to an extended work, such as an opera or oratorio.

b. A similar orchestral work intended for independent concert performance.

2. An introductory section or part, as of a poem; a prelude.

3. An act, offer, or proposal that indicates readiness to undertake a course of action or open a relationship.

tr.v. o·ver·tured, o·ver·tur·ing, o·ver·tures

1. To present as an introduction or proposal.

2. To present or make an offer or proposal to.

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[Middle English, opening, from Old French, from Vulgar Latin *pertra, alteration (influenced by Latin cperre, to cover) of Latin apertra, from apertus, past participle of aperre, to open; see wer-⁴ in Indo-European roots.]

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overture

Noun

1. Music

a. a piece of orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera, oratorio, or ballet, musical comedy, or film, often containing the main musical themes of the work

b. a one-movement orchestral piece, usually having a descriptive or evocative title: the 1812 Overture

2. overtures opening moves towards a new relationship or agreement: the German government made a variety of friendly overtures towards the French [Late Latin apertura opening]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	overture - orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner
	2.	overture - something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows; "training is a necessary preliminary to employment"; "drinks were the overture to dinner" prelude, preliminary inception, origination, origin - an event that is a beginning; a first part or stage of subsequent events
	3.	overture - a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others; "she rejected his advances" feeler, advance, approach proffer, proposition, suggestion - a proposal offered for acceptance or rejection; "it was a suggestion we couldn't refuse"

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overture

noun Music prelude, opening, introduction, introductory movement << OPPOSITE finale

Translations

overture [ˈəuvətʃuəʳ] n (MUS) → obertura;

(fig) → propuesta

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overture [ˈəuvətʃuəʳ] n (Mus), (fig); ouverture f

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overture [ˈəuvətʃuəʳ] n (Mus) → Ouvertüre f (fig); Annäherungsversuch m

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overture [ˈəuvətʃuəʳ] n (MUS) → ouverture f inv;

(fig) → approccio