ouverture

noun

ou·​ver·​ture ˌü-ver-ˈtu̇r 

-ˈtᵫr

plural ouvertures

1

: overture entry 1 sense 4

especially : french overture

The first movement of each suite is an ouverture, a hefty movement in the French style propelled by dotted rhythms …

—Chris Woodstra et al., All Music Guide to Classical Music, 2005

2

: a Baroque orchestral suite beginning with an overture

In Germany and France, the suites are usually called ouvertures, which is also the designation of the first movement

—Chris Woodstra et al., All Music Guide to Classical Music, 2005

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