OVERTONE
overtone, partial, partial tone
(noun) a harmonic with a frequency that is a multiple of the fundamental frequency
overtone
(noun) (usually plural) an ulterior implicit meaning or quality; “overtones of despair”
Source: WordNet® 3.1
Etymology
Noun
overtone (plural overtones)
(physics, music) A tone whose frequency is an integer multiple of another; a member of the harmonic series. [from 1867]
(figuratively, often, in plural) An implicit message (in a film, book, verbal discussion or similar) perceived as overwhelming the explicit message. [from 1890]
Antonym: undertone
Verb
overtone (third-person singular simple present overtones, present participle overtoning, simple past and past participle overtoned)
(transitive) To give an overtone to.
Source: Wiktionary
O"ver*tone`, n. Etym: [A translation of G. oberton. See Over,Tone.]
(Mus.)
Definition: One of the harmonics faintly heard with and above a tone as it
dies away, produced by some aliquot portion of the vibrating sting or
column of air which yields the fundamental tone; one of the natural
harmonic scale of tones, as the octave, twelfth, fifteenth, etc.; an
aliquot or "partial" tone; a harmonic. See Harmonic, and Tone.
Tyndall.
Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition