overtone Definition
- 1an additional and usually implicit meaning or quality that is present in something, especially a piece of music
- 2a 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
Antonyms for overtone
Phrases with 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'
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.
