Overtone

Pronunciation

• US IPA: /ˈoÊŠvÉštoÊŠn/

Origin

over + tone, from German Oberton.

Full definition of overtone

Noun

1. (physics, music) A tone whose frequency is an integer multiple of another; a harmonic
2. An implicit message (in a film, book, verbal discussion or similar) perceived as overwhelming the explicit message. See undertone.
• 2012, April 23, Angelique Chrisafis , François Hollande on top but far right scores record result in French election, The lawyer and twice-divorced mother of three had presented herself as the modern face of her party, trying to strip it of unsavoury overtones after her father's convictions for saying the Nazi occupation of France was not "particularly inhumane".

Related terms

• overtoning