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overture

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overture
overture /ˈəʊvətjʊə, -tʃʊə, -tʃə $ ˈoʊvərtjʊr, -tʃʊr, -tʃər/ noun
 Date: 1400-1500
 Language: Old French
 Origin: 'opening', from Latin apertura; aperture
1. [countable] a short piece of music written as an introduction to a long piece of music, especially an opera
2. overtures [plural] an attempt to begin a friendly relationship with a person, country etc:
    They began making overtures to the Irish government.
    She had rejected his overtures.
3. be an overture if an event is an overture to a more important event, it happens just before it and makes you expect it