No. 4,780 in German
übertönen
To drown out or overpower (a sound).
In a sentence
Die laute Musik übertönt die Gespräche der Gäste.
The loud music drowns out the guests' conversations.
Here, 'übertönen' refers to the act of a sound being so loud that it masks or drowns out other sounds.
Er versuchte, seine Unsicherheit mit einem Lächeln zu übertönen.
He tried to mask his insecurity with a smile.
In this context, 'übertönen' metaphorically implies overcoming or masking an emotional or non-physical attribute with a behavior or action.
Die Sirene übertönte jegliche andere Geräusche in der Umgebung.
The siren overpowered all other noises in the surroundings.
Here, 'übertönen' is used to describe a sound overriding or overpowering other surrounding noises.
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