overture -

Dictionary

  1. Definitions from Oxford Languages · Learn more

  2. o·ver·ture

  3. /ˈōvərˌCHo͝or,ˈōvərˌCHər/

  4. noun

    1. an orchestral piece at the beginning of an opera, suite, play, oratorio, or other extended composition.

      "the overture to Mozart's “Don Giovanni”"

      Similar:

      prelude

      introduction

      opening

      introductory movement

      voluntary

      verset

    2. an introduction to something more substantial.

      "the talks were no more than an overture to a long debate"

      Similar:

      preliminary

      prelude

      curtain-raiser

      introduction

      lead-in

      precursor

      forerunner

      harbinger

      herald

      start

      beginning

      opener