O"ver*ture (?), [OF. overture, F. ouverture, fr. OF. ovrir, F. ouvrir. See Overt.] 1. An opening or aperture; a recess; a recess; a chamber. [Obs.] Spenser. "The cave's inmost overture." Chapman.

2. Disclosure; discovery; revelation. [Obs.]

It was he
That made the overture of thy treasons to us.

3. A proposal; an offer; a proposition formally submitted for consideration, acceptance, or rejection. "The great overture of the gospel." Barrow.

4. (Mus.) A composition, for a full orchestra, designed as an introduction to an oratorio, opera, or ballet, or as an independent piece; -- called in the latter case a concert overture.

O"ver*ture, v. t. To make an overture to; as, to overture a religious body on some subject.

• (often plural) approach (approaches) made to initiate verbal communication
       The rebels responded to the government's peace overtures with with scornful disregard.
  
• (music) a musical introduction to a piece of music which may or may not be an integral part of that piece of music