overture

American  

[oh-ver-cher, -choor] / ˈoʊ vər tʃər, -ˌtʃʊər /

noun

1. 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.

2. Music.

   1. an orchestral composition forming the prelude or introduction to an opera, oratorio, etc.

   2. an independent piece of similar character.

3. an introductory part, as of a poem; prelude; prologue.

4. (in Presbyterian churches)

   1. the action of an ecclesiastical court in submitting a question or proposal to presbyteries.

   2. the proposal or question so submitted.

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verb (used with object)

overtured, overturing

1. to submit as an overture or proposal.

   to overture conditions for a ceasefire.

2. to make an overture or proposal to.

   to overture one's adversary through a neutral party.

overture British  

/ ˈəʊvəˌtjʊə /

noun

1. music

   1. 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

   2. a similar piece preceding the performance of a play

   3. Also called: concert overture.  a one-movement orchestral piece, usually having a descriptive or evocative title

   4. a short piece in three movements ( French overture or Italian overture ) common in the 17th and 18th centuries

2. (often plural) a proposal, act, or gesture initiating a relationship, negotiation, etc

3. something that introduces what follows

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verb

1. to make or present an overture to

2. to introduce with an overture

overture Cultural  

1. 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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Related Words

See proposal.

Etymology

Origin of overture

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English, from Old French; overt, -ure; doublet of aperture

Example Sentences

In the popular overture, elicitation of tumult concludes, with startling exhilaration, in the kind of grand Beethovenian triumph that never fails to excite.

From Los Angeles Times

At the same time, the Yugoslav government was making overtures to Illinois Representative - and later Governor - Rod Blagojevich, then the only Serbian-American in Congress.

From BBC

Paramount said Tuesday that it has complied with the Justice Department’s antitrust investigation of its all-cash offer for Warner, which it sought even though Warner has told shareholders to reject its overtures.

From The Wall Street Journal

Diller’s overture to Warner, which hasn’t been previously reported, adds a new twist to the biggest takeover drama in the media industry in years.

From The Wall Street Journal

It's also part of Lee's diplomatic overtures to regional powers including Japan, with whom South Korea has a fraught history but shares a security alliance.

From BBC

Related Words

• bid
• invitation
• presentation
• proposal
• proposition
• signal
• suggestion