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
b.
a similar piece preceding the performance of a play
c. Also called: concert overture
a one-movement orchestral piece, usually having a descriptive or evocative title
d.
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(transitive)
4.
to make or present an overture to
5.
to introduce with an overture
Word origin
C14: via Old French, from Late Latin apertūra opening, from Latin aperīre to open; see overt