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.

---

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

---

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.

---

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

Israel, which has made overtures to Syria’s Druze, mobilized.

From Los Angeles Times

White, there were preliminary discussions reportedly led by Brussels and Kuala Lumpur about coordinated international responses, these overtures fizzled out.

From Barron's

The mere idea that the Tigers would entertain overtures for Skubal perfectly demonstrates why the baseball world is bracing for major upheaval this time next year.

From The Wall Street Journal

Among those sending forces is Ghana's President John Mahama, who leads a resilient democracy but has made friendly diplomatic overtures to the Sahelian military regimes.

From BBC

Hoekstra, a former ambassador to the Netherlands and head of the Michigan Republican Party, made some friendly overtures.

From Salon

Related Words

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