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overture
[ oh-ver-cher, -choor ]
noun
- an opening or initiating move toward negotiations, a new relationship, an agreement, etc.; a formal or informal proposal or offer:
overtures of peace; a shy man who rarely made overtures of friendship.
- Music.
- an orchestral composition forming the prelude or introduction to an opera, oratorio, etc.
- an independent piece of similar character.
- an introductory part, as of a poem; prelude; prologue.
- (in Presbyterian churches)
- the action of an ecclesiastical court in submitting a question or proposal to presbyteries.
- the proposal or question so submitted.
verb (used with object)
- to submit as an overture or proposal:
to overture conditions for a ceasefire.
- to make an overture or proposal to:
to overture one's adversary through a neutral party.
overture
/ ˈəʊvəˌtjʊə /
noun
- music
- a piece of orchestral music containing contrasting sections that is played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio, often containing the main musical themes of the work
- a similar piece preceding the performance of a play
- Also calledconcert overture a one-movement orchestral piece, usually having a descriptive or evocative title
- a short piece in three movements ( French overture or Italian overture ) common in the 17th and 18th centuries
- often plural a proposal, act, or gesture initiating a relationship, negotiation, etc
- something that introduces what follows
verb
- to make or present an overture to
- to introduce with an overture
overture
- A piece of music for instruments alone, written as an introduction to a longer work, such as an opera , an oratorio , or a musical comedy .
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of overture1
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Synonym Study
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Example Sentences
Every night on the radio, The Lone Ranger came on, and we learned to love the sound of the William Tell Overture.
And the opening ballet between the overture and "Runyonland" wasn't working; it was out, it was back in, it was out again.
And he should publicly reject any Iranian military overture of assistance.
Encouragingly, it seems the group was actually rewarded for this overture.
Bob Woodward's scoop today about Roger Ailes's overture to David Petraeus is well worth your time.
The overture is over, the curtain is about to rise on the drama of Georgie's married life.
Nowadays many organists find it possible to play the Overture to Tannhauser; the writer pleads guilty himself.
He had composed a string quartet in B major, and an overture in F major.
I am very busy (upon the orchestration of the C minor overture composed during the summer).
The overture in C minor, referred to in this letter, was submitted to Nicholas Rubinstein a few days later.
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