overture

noun overtures

1. obsolete An opening; a recess or chamber. c. 1612', George Chapman, A Hymne to Hermes the cave's inmost overture
2. obsolete Disclosure; discovery; revelation. It was he That made the overture of thy treasons to us.
3. often, plural An approach or proposal made to initiate communication, establish a relationship etc. overture of friendship
4. Scotland A motion placed before a legislative body, such as the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.
5. A musical introduction to a longer piece of music or a dramatic work (such as a play, an opera, or a motion picture). The overture was almost at a close; and silence being now more effective than any thing that he could urge in favour of the play, Courtenaye went behind the scenes:...
6. A medley of themes from a larger work, such as an opera or musical, typically played at the beginning but sometimes played at any part of the work or performed as a standalone piece. The paradoxical use of an overture at the end of a concert occasionally gave rise to satire in the musical press.

Opposite: coda

verb overtures · overturing · overtured

1. intransitive To make overtures; to approach with a proposal. For a partner setting a table in a game of “house,” an overturing child might assume the role of the father returning home from work at dinnertime rather than overturing by throwing a ball toward the child and yelling “catch.”

adjective

1. nonstandard, not comparable Overt, that is, disclosed. Crest : A falcon, wings overture.