overtone

noun

(figuratively, often in the plural) An implicit message (in a film, book, verbal discussion, or similar) perceived as overwhelming the explicit message.

An implicit message (in a film, book, verbal discussion, or similar) perceived subtly alongside, but not overwhelming, the explicit message.

(physics, music) A tone whose frequency is an integer multiple of another; a member of the harmonic series.

verb

(transitive) To give an overtone to.

Roots

oferover- · Old English · above (a calque of German Oberton)tonostone- · Greek · pitch, stretching

Synonyms for overtone

undertonen harmonicadj intonationn undercurrentn

Synonyms & related words for overtone

Find synonyms, related words, and the definition of overtone — including undertone, harmonic, intonation, undercurrent. Dendril is a free visual thesaurus that shows them on an interactive map where stronger matches sit closer to the center — no signup, no ads.

Words related to overtone

Explore words related to overtone — words associated with it, words that go with it, and its nearest matches in meaning. Related words include tones, inharmonic, tonetic, sonority, plangency, tonally, resonance, timbre. Click any word to make it the center of the map and keep exploring the web of connections.

Synonyms for overtone

Common synonyms for overtone include undertone, harmonic, intonation, undercurrent — words that share a close meaning. Hover or tap any word on the map for its definition and part of speech.

Where does overtone come from?

The word overtone breaks down into 2 roots of Old English and Greek origin: over-, from Old English ofer (“above (a calque of German Oberton)”); and tone, from Greek tonos (“pitch, stretching”). Explore each root to see other English words built from the same source.