Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- noun An instrumental composition intended especially as an introduction to an extended work, such as an opera or oratorio.
- noun A similar orchestral work intended for independent concert performance.
- noun An introductory section or part, as of a poem; a prelude.
- noun An act, offer, or proposal that indicates readiness to undertake a course of action or open a relationship.
- transitive verb To present as an introduction or proposal.
- transitive verb To present or make an offer or proposal to.
from The Century Dictionary.
- noun An opening; an aperture; a hole.
- noun An open place.
- noun Opening; disclosure; discovery.
- noun In music, an orchestral movement properly serving as a prelude or introduction to an extended work, as an opera or oratorio.
- noun Something offered to open the way to some conclusion; something proposed for acceptance or rejection; a proposal: as, to make overtures of peace.
- noun Specifically Eccles., in Presbyterian church law, a formal proposal submitted to an ecclesiastical court.
- noun Synonyms Proposition, etc. See
proposal . - Eccles., to submit an overture to. See
overture , n., 6.
from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.
- obsolete An opening or aperture; a recess; a chamber.
- obsolete Disclosure; discovery; revelation.
- A proposal; an offer; a proposition formally submitted for consideration, acceptance, or rejection.
- (Mus.) A composition, for a full orchestra, designed as an introduction to an oratorio, opera, or ballet, or as an independent piece; -- called in the latter case a
concert overture . - transitive verb To make an overture to.
from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.
- noun a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others
- noun orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio
- noun something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
Etymologies
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License
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Examples
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By the 18th century, composers were calling the overture to an opera, or an oratorio, the "sinfonia".
How the great symphonies became our soundtrack to a changing world 2011
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Whether Syria's peace overture is rhetorical or real, there is no better time to put Damascus to the test.
Alon Ben-Meir: Syria Reasserts Its Centrality to Peace Alon Ben-Meir 2010
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Whether Syria's peace overture is rhetorical or real, there is no better time to put Damascus to the test.
Alon Ben-Meir: Syria Reasserts Its Centrality to Peace Alon Ben-Meir 2010
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William Tell overture is not "from the soundtrack for A Clockwork Orange", it is a piece of classical music composed by Rossini.
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This overture is still old politics, which some will embrace whole heartedly.
McCain team reaches out to disappointed Clinton backers 2008
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Seligman likes charm a lot, I'm glad to say, and he knows well enough that this cunning overture is politely blind to the fact that neither of his ladies asked to have this contest arranged.
Odd Couple 2004
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Seligman likes charm a lot, I'm glad to say, and he knows well enough that this cunning overture is politely blind to the fact that neither of his ladies asked to have this contest arranged.
Odd Couple 2004
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ZAHN: Is that something the U.S. would welcome, this overture from the Germans?
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By the 18th century, composers were calling the overture to an opera, or an oratorio, the "sinfonia".
The Guardian World News Vanessa Thorpe 2011
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The "overture" - the missionary's initial bonding with Muslims via discussion of the Koran - is precision-engineered to undermine their allegiance to Islam.
GetReligion tmatt 2010
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