overtone

• Существительное с двумя основными значениями: (1) скрытое или второстепенное качество или значение, часто используемое во множественном числе; (2) гармоническая частота, кратная основной частоте в акустике.

A noun with two primary meanings: (1) an implicit or secondary quality or meaning, often used in the plural; (2) a harmonic frequency that is a multiple of the fundamental frequency in acoustics.

1. Implicit meaning or qualityB2formal

   An additional, often subtle, meaning or quality that is suggested but not directly stated.

   Подтекст

   • His speech had political overtones that were not lost on the audience.
   • The joke had a racist overtone that made everyone uncomfortable.
   • The novel is filled with religious overtones.

   Synonymsconnotationhintimplicationinsinuationnuancesuggestionundercurrentundertone

2. Acoustic harmonicC1formalscientific

   A higher frequency component of a sound wave that is a multiple of the fundamental frequency, contributing to the timbre of the sound.

   Обертон

   • The overtone series gives each musical instrument its unique sound.
   • Singers can learn to produce overtones to create a richer voice.
   • The physicist analyzed the overtones of the vibrating string.

   Synonymsharmonicpartial