Ouvertüre

overture

noun oo-ver-TUE-ruh Rare

Origin: from French ouverture (opening)

Usage Note

Ouvertüre is the orchestral overture opening an opera or concert. Figuratively it can mean an opening gambit, as in eine politische Ouvertüre. Note the French-derived spelling with ou-.

Examples

"Die Ouvertüre stimmte das Publikum auf die Oper ein."

Natural Translation

The overture set the audience in the mood for the opera.

Literal Translation

The overture tuned the audience onto the opera in.

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