How to pronounce overtone
American English pronunciation
OH-ver-tohn
- IPA
- /ˈoʊvɚˌtoʊn/
- Syllables
- OH · ver · tohn (3 syllables, stress on the 1st)
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What overtone means
A fainter, higher tone heard along with a main note
In a sentence: When the big bell rang, I could hear a soft overtone ringing above the deep main note.
Where it comes from: It's over plus tone, modeled on the German word Oberton, meaning an upper tone. It was first used this way in 1867.
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