Category:Overtone

O"ver*tone`, n. Etym: [a translation of g. oberton. See over,tone.] (mus.)

Defn: one of the harmonics faintly heard with and above a tone as it Dies away, produced by some aliquot portion of the vibrating sting or Column of air which yields the fundamental tone; one of the natural Harmonic scale of tones, as the octave, twelfth, fifteenth, etc.; an Aliquot or "partial" tone; a harmonic. See harmonic, and tone. Tyndall.