[ˈəʊvətjʊə], (Noun)

Definitions:
- an orchestral piece at the beginning of an opera, play, etc.
(e.g: the overture to Mozart's ‘Don Giovanni’)

- an introduction to something more substantial
(e.g: the talks were no more than an overture to a long debate)

- an approach or proposal made to someone with the aim of opening negotiations or establishing a relationship
(e.g: he began making overtures to British merchant banks)


Phrases:

Origin:
late Middle English (in the sense ‘aperture’): from Old French, from Latin apertura ‘aperture’