overtone
|o-ver-tone|
🇺🇸
/ˈoʊvərˌtoʊn/
🇬🇧
/ˈəʊvəˌtəʊn/
subtle sound or meaning
Etymology
'overtone' originates from the combination of 'over' and 'tone', where 'over' meant 'above' and 'tone' referred to 'sound'.
'Overtone' has remained relatively unchanged in its form and meaning since its inception in the English language.
Initially, it referred specifically to musical harmonics, but over time it evolved to include subtle implications in language.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a musical tone that is a part of the harmonic series above a fundamental note, contributing to the timbre of the sound.
The overtone added richness to the sound of the violin.
Synonyms
Noun 2
an additional, often subtle or implicit meaning or quality.
The speech had political overtones that were not immediately obvious.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:41