overtone

views updated May 18 2018

o·ver·tone / ˈōvərˌtōn/ • n. 1. a musical tone that is a part of the harmonic series above a fundamental note and may be heard with it. ∎  Physics a component of any oscillation whose frequency is an integral multiple of the fundamental frequency.2. (often overtones) a subtle or subsidiary quality, implication, or connotation: the decision may have political overtones.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

overtone

views updated May 21 2018

overtone (acoustics, mus.) harmonic. XIX. — G. oberton, for oberpartialton ‘upper partial tone’.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD

overtone

views updated May 14 2018

overtone. Any note of the harmonic series except the fundamental.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Music MICHAEL KENNEDY and JOYCE BOURNE

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