overtone

American  

[oh-ver-tohn] / ˈoʊ vərˌtoʊn /

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:

   hint, intimation, suggestion, insinuation

---

overtone British  

/ ˈəʊvəˌtəʊn /

noun

1. (often plural) additional meaning or nuance

   overtones of despair

2. 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 Scientific  

/ ō′vər-tōn′ /

1. See under harmonic

---

Etymology

Origin of overtone

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

Example Sentences

“If the European companies, European buyers suddenly decide to reorient themselves and guarantee us consistent and long-term cooperation, bereft of political overtones—please. We never refused, we’re ready to work with Europeans,“ he said.

From The Wall Street Journal

In solo performances, Mr. Taborn sometimes dissolves his music into glorious and otherworldly overtones without losing its momentum.

From The Wall Street Journal

The overtones of Roman sculpture probably owe something to Bellini’s close relationship with his brother-in-law Andrea Mantegna, known for sharply drawn images, informed by his study of antiquity.

From The Wall Street Journal

The significant difference in the masses of the colliding black holes also produced a "higher harmonic," a kind of overtone similar to those heard in musical instruments.

From Science Daily

Sam Quinones celebrates this ungainly instrument and its players in “The Perfect Tuba,” a delightfully offbeat book with unexpectedly profound overtones.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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