# overtone

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈoʊvɚtoʊn/ · frequency rank #68,509

## Definitions
1. 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.
3. An implicit message (in a film, book, verbal discussion, or similar) perceived subtly alongside, but not overwhelming, the explicit message.

## Etymology
From over- + tone, calque of German Oberton.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/overtone