overtone

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The significant difference in the masses of the colliding black holes also produced a "higher harmonic," a kind of overtone similar to those heard in musical instruments.

From Science Daily • Oct. 30, 2025

A Times review mercilessly ridiculed the French composer’s explanations of his “spectral” technique, a fanciful use of the harmonic overtone series to create a sense of aural wonderment in the listener.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 8, 2022

“The positive overtone will be extremely important because we can expect Beijing to turn to Taiwan, to appeal for some kind of dialogue.”

From Washington Times • Jun. 27, 2022

Though the word “miracle” has a religious overtone, I am not invoking the spiritual or the supernatural.

From New York Times • Jul. 2, 2021

The next longest wave is the third harmonic, or second overtone, and so on.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones