| Overture 1. (n.) An instrumental prelude to an opera; a proposal; an offer; a proposition formally submitted for consideration, acceptance, or rejection. 2. (n.) An opening or aperture; a recess; a recess; a chamber. 3. (n.) Disclosure; discovery; revelation. 4. (n.) A composition, for a full orchestra, designed as an introduction to an oratorio, opera, or ballet, or as an independent piece; -- called in the latter case a concert overture. 5. (v. t.) To make an overture to; as, to overture a religious body on some subject. Thesaurus Entries Vorspiel, advance, approach, asking price, avant-propos, bid, breakthrough, concert overture, curtain raiser, descant, dramatic overture, exordium, feeler, foreword, front matter, frontispiece, innovation, introduction, invitation, leap, offer, offering, operatic overture, overtures, postulate, preamble, preface, prefix, prefixture, preliminary, preliminary approach, prelude, premise, presentation, presupposition, proem, proffer, prolegomena, prolegomenon, prolepsis, prologue, proposal, proposition, protasis, submission, tender, tentative approach, vamp, verse, voluntary |