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Noun: overtone  'ow-vu(r),town
  1. A harmonic with a frequency that is a multiple of the fundamental frequency
    "The rich overtones of the violin created a warm sound";
    - partial, partial tone
     
  2. (usually plural) an ulterior implicit meaning or quality
    "overtones of despair"

Derived forms: overtones

Type of: harmonic, import, meaning, significance, signification

Encyclopedia: Overtone