overtone

[ˈoʊvərtoʊn]

overtone Definition

• 1. an additional and usually implicit meaning or quality that is present in something, especially a piece of music
• 2. a subtle hint or suggestion

Using overtone: Examples

Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "overtone" can be used in various situations through the following examples!

• Example

  The song had political overtones that were not immediately apparent.

• Example

  There was an overtone of sadness in her voice.

• Example

  The joke had a sexual overtone that made some people uncomfortable.

overtone Synonyms and Antonyms

Synonyms for overtone

• undertone
• connotation
• implication
• suggestion
• hint

Antonyms for overtone

• explicitness
• clarity

Phrases with overtone

• harmonic overtone

  a musical tone that is higher in pitch than the fundamental note and is produced by vibration of the string or air column in smaller segments

  Example

  The harmonic overtones of the guitar give it a unique sound.

• racial overtones

  subtle or indirect references to race, often with negative connotations

  Example

  The politician's speech had racial overtones that offended many people.

• sexual overtones

  subtle or indirect references to sex, often with suggestive or inappropriate connotations

  Example

  The movie had a lot of sexual overtones that made some viewers uncomfortable.

Origins of overtone

from 'over-' meaning 'additional' + 'tone'

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Summary: overtone in Brief

The term 'overtone' [ˈoʊvərtoʊn] refers to an implicit meaning or quality present in something, especially music. It can also denote a subtle hint or suggestion, as in 'There was an overtone of sadness in her voice.' 'Overtone' extends into phrases like 'harmonic overtone,' and contexts like 'racial overtones' and 'sexual overtones,' which refer to subtle or indirect references to race or sex, often with negative or suggestive connotations.