Word · Frequency #11391
overtone
弦外之音；言外之意；暗示
An implied or secondary quality, meaning, or atmosphere, often conveyed indirectly.
常用复数形式，指话中或事物中隐含的意味
- 1.
A tone whose frequency is an integer multiple of another; a member of the harmonic series.
频率为另一个音的整数倍的音；泛音列中的一员。
- 2.
(usually plural) an ulterior implicit meaning or quality
(通常复数)隐含的深层意义或特质
- 3.
An implicit message (in a film, book, verbal discussion, or similar) perceived as overwhelming the explicit message.
被认为压倒明确信息的隐含信息。
- 4.
a harmonic with a frequency that is a multiple of the fundamental frequency
频率为基频整数倍的泛音
- 5.
An implicit message (in a film, book, verbal discussion, or similar) perceived subtly alongside, but not overwhelming, the explicit message.
与明确信息并存但不压倒它的隐含信息。
泛音；陪音；频率为另一个音的整数倍的音；泛音列中的一员。；(通常复数)隐含的深层意义或特质；被认为压倒明确信息的隐含信息。；频率为基频整数倍的泛音
In use
His speech had political overtones that made the audience uneasy.
There was a romantic overtone in her voice when she mentioned his name.
The advertisement's subtle racial overtones sparked controversy.
overtones of despair
have overtones of sth
The film's happy ending had overtones of irony.
这部电影的快乐结局带有讽刺的弦外之音。
carry overtones of sth
His comments carried strong racial overtones.
他的评论带有强烈的种族色彩。
take on overtones of sth
Connections
Collocations
- political overtones
- 政治色彩；政治涵义
- Her resignation letter carried strong political overtones.她的辞职信带有强烈的政治色彩。
- racial overtones
- 种族色彩；种族含义
- The dispute was supposedly about money, but it had racial overtones.这场争端表面上是为了钱，但带有种族色彩。
- sexual overtones
- 性暗示；情色色彩
- The advertisement was criticized for its sexual overtones.这条广告因带有性暗示而受到批评。
- emotional overtones
- 情感色彩；感情暗示
- The debate had emotional overtones that made it hard to stay objective.这场辩论带有情感色彩，让人很难保持客观。
- negative overtones
- 负面含义；贬义色彩
- In public discussion, the term often carries negative overtones.在公开讨论中，这个词常带有负面含义。
Learner notes
Memory Tip
over（在…之上）+ tone（音调/话语）→ 话语之上还藏着一层“音”，即言外之意、弦外之音。
Context & Register
语域：neutral 常见场景：film and book reviews、media commentary、academic writing 作“弦外之音、暗示”解时，通常用于较正式的书面语境，如影评、书评、新闻评论和学术写作；日常口语中较少使用。
Pronunciation & Spelling
这些词都以 -one 结尾，但读音分两类：tone、stone、alone、phone 与 overtone 的后半部分押韵（/oʊn/ 或 /toʊn/）。注意 one /wʌn/、gone /ɡɔːn/（美式也可能读 /ɡɑːn/）、done /dʌn/ 拼写相似但发音不同。
Usage priority
Collins 词频等级为 1，建议结合例句记忆，而不是只背中文释义。
Learn the forms together
页面下方列出了常见词形变化。学习时注意它们在句子中的语法位置。
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY.