Overture
Etymology: [OF. overture, F. ouverture, fr. OF. ovrir, F. ouvrir. See Overt.]
1. An opening or aperture; a recess; a recess; a chamber. [Obs.] Spenser. "The cave's inmost overture." Chapman.
2. Disclosure; discovery; revelation. [Obs.] It was he That made the overture of thy treasons to us. Shak.
3. A proposal; an offer; a proposition formally submitted for consideration, acceptance, or rejection. "The great overture of the gospel." Barrow.
4. (Mus.)
1 more senses
A composition, for a full orchestra, designed as an introduction to an oratorio, opera, or ballet, or as an independent piece; -- called in the latter case a concert overture.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Overture, v. t.
To make an overture to; as, to overture a religious body on some subject.