overtone

Etymology

over + tone, from German Oberton.

Pronunciation

• (US) IPA^(key): /ˈoʊvɚtoʊn/
• (UK) IPA^(key): /ˈəʊ.və.təʊn/

Noun

overtone (plural overtones)

1. (physics, music) A tone whose frequency is an integer multiple of another; a member of the harmonic series
2. An implicit message (in a film, book, verbal discussion or similar) perceived as overwhelming the explicit message. See undertone.
   • 2012 April 23, Angelique Chrisafis, “François Hollande on top but far right scores record result in French election”, in the Guardian‎:

     The lawyer and twice-divorced mother of three had presented herself as the modern face of her party, trying to strip it of unsavoury overtones after her father's convictions for saying the Nazi occupation of France was not "particularly inhumane".