Associations to the word «Overtone»

Wiktionary

OVERTONE, noun. (physics) (music) A tone whose frequency is an integer multiple of another; a harmonic
OVERTONE, noun. An implicit message (in a film, book, verbal discussion or similar) perceived as overwhelming the explicit message. See undertone.

Dictionary definition

OVERTONE, noun. (usually plural) an ulterior implicit meaning or quality; "overtones of despair".
OVERTONE, noun. A harmonic with a frequency that is a multiple of the fundamental frequency.

Wise words

A word is not a crystal, transparent and unchanged; it is the skin of a living thought and may vary greatly in color and content according to the circumstances and time in which it is used.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr.