overture

Plural: overtures

Noun

• orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio
• something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows
  • "drinks were the overture to dinner"
• a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others
• An opening; a recess or chamber.
• Disclosure; discovery; revelation.
• An approach or proposal made to initiate communication, establish a relationship etc.
• A motion placed before a legislative body, such as the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
• A musical introduction to a longer piece of music or a dramatic work (such as a play, an opera, or a motion picture).
• A medley of themes from a larger work, such as an opera or musical, typically played at the beginning but sometimes played at any part of the work or performed as a standalone piece.

Verb

Verb Forms: overtured, overturing, overtures

• To make a formal proposal or offer.
• To make overtures; to approach with a proposal.

Adj

• Overt, that is, disclosed.

Examples

• He would often overture a trade of letters, hoping to improve his Scrabble rack.
• overture of friendship

Synonyms

advance, approach, feeler, preliminary, prelude

Antonyms

coda

Related Words

overt

Anagrams of overture