ədˈvæns ˈfiːlə ˈfiːləɹ ˈəʊvətjʊə ˈoʊvəɹtʃəɹ pɹɪˈlɪmɪnɛɹi pɹɪˈlɪmɪnəɹi ˈpɹɛl(j)uːd orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio a tentative suggestion designed to elicit the reactions of others she rejected his advances something that serves as a preceding event or introduces what follows training is a necessary preliminary to employment drinks were the overture to dinner