OVERTURE


Meaning of OVERTURE in English

I. ˈō-və(r)-ˌchu̇r, -chər, -ˌtyu̇r, -ˌtu̇r noun

Etymology: Middle English, literally, opening, from Anglo-French, from Vulgar Latin * opertura, alteration of Latin apertura — more at aperture

Date: 15th century

1.

a. : an initiative toward agreement or action : proposal

b. : something introductory : prelude

2.

a. : the orchestral introduction to a musical dramatic work

b. : an orchestral concert piece written especially as a single movement in sonata form

II. transitive verb

( -tured ; -tur·ing )

Date: circa 1650

1. : to put forward as an overture

2. : to make or present an overture to

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.