overtone

[ oh-ver-tohn ]

noun

1. Music. an acoustical frequency that is higher in frequency than the fundamental.
2. an additional, usually subsidiary and implicit meaning or quality:

   an aesthetic theory with definite political overtones.

   Synonyms: intimation, hint, suggestion, insinuation

overtone

/ ˈəʊvəˌtəʊn /

noun

1. often plural additional meaning or nuance

   overtones of despair

2. See partial, harmonic
   music acoustics any of the tones, with the exception of the fundamental, that constitute a musical sound and contribute to its quality, each having a frequency that is a multiple of the fundamental frequency See also harmonic partial

overtone

/ ō′vər-tōn′ /

1. See under harmonic

Word History and Origins

Origin of overtone¹

1865–70; translation of German Oberton. See over-, tone

Example Sentences

Croft’s basic personality and backstory remained in place, but it had a darker, more brooding overtone.

From Washington Post

Today, her phrase “birth control” suggests overtones of control by the state or others, and is no longer commonly used.

From Washington Post

There were racial overtones to that kind of perception of the ingredient.

From Washington Post

Space started as a duopoly as the United States and the Soviet Union vied for supremacy in a geopolitical contest with loud military overtones.

From Singularity Hub 

Gender boundaries were rigidly policed, at times with moral overtones, and the social pressures laid upon men and women were very real.

From Time

I know this is the word used in English but “Holocaust” has a sacrificial overtone that is unbearable to me.

From The Daily Beast

Since this is a law of vibration, it is unscientific to speak of giving an overtone, for all tones contain overtones.

From Project Gutenberg

Impassioned it continued, and yet with the overtone of a great pity and tenderness now vibrating through it.

From Project Gutenberg

But now quiet, save for an undescribable, whispering overtone that seemed to permeate the air.

From Project Gutenberg

In any overtone, the number of the parts or vibrating segments of the string is one more than the number of the overtone.

From Project Gutenberg

And the tinkle of myriad glass wind bells held a maddening overtone.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• connotation
• flavor
• meaning
• nuance
• tone
• undercurrent
• undertone