Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun overture

3 senses of overture

Sense 1
overture -- (orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio)
       => music -- (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Sense 2
preliminary, overture, prelude -- (something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows; "training is a necessary preliminary to employment"; "drinks were the overture to dinner")
       => origin, origination, inception -- (an event that is a beginning; a first part or stage of subsequent events)

Sense 3
overture, advance, approach, feeler -- (a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others; "she rejected his advances")
       => suggestion, proposition, proffer -- (a proposal offered for acceptance or rejection; "it was a suggestion we couldn't refuse")