OVERTURE


Meaning of OVERTURE in English

■ noun

1》 an orchestral piece at the beginning of a musical work.

↘an independent orchestral composition in one movement.

2》 an introduction to something more substantial.

3》 an approach made with the aim of opening negotiations or establishing a relationship.

Origin

ME (in the sense 'aperture'): from OFr., from L. apertura 'aperture'.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.