First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
1overture
noun over·ture \ˈō-və(r)-ˌchu̇r, -chər, -ˌtyu̇r, -ˌtu̇r\
: a piece of music played at the start of an opera, a musical play, etc.
: something that is offered or suggested with the hope that it will start a relationship, lead to an agreement, etc.
: the first part of an event : the beginning of something
Full Definition of OVERTURE
2
a : the orchestral introduction to a musical dramatic work b : an orchestral concert piece written especially as a single movement in sonata form
See overture defined for English-language learners
See overture defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of OVERTURE
Middle English, literally, opening, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin *opertura, alteration of Latin apertura — more at aperture
Related to OVERTURE
- Synonyms
- curtain-raiser, prelude, preamble, preliminary, prologue (also prolog), warm-up
Other Music Terms
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
2overture
verb
overturedovertur·ing
Definition of OVERTURE
transitive verb
1
: to put forward as an overture
2
: to make or present an overture to
First Known Use of OVERTURE
circa 1650
OVERTURE Defined for Kids
overture
noun over·ture \ˈō-vər-ˌchu̇r\
Definition of OVERTURE for Kids
1
: something first offered or suggested with the hope of reaching an agreement <Old enemies made overtures of peace.>
2
: a piece of music played at the beginning of an opera or musical play
Learn More About OVERTURE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: overturn (verb)Previous Word in the Dictionary: overtrumpAll Words Near: overture
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up overture? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).