monotone Hear it!

monotone Definition

mono·tone (män′ə tōn′)

noun

  1. uninterrupted repetition of the same tone; utterance of successive syllables or words without change of pitch or key
  2. monotony or sameness of tone, style, manner, color, etc.
  3. a single, unchanging musical tone
  4. recitation, chanting, or singing in such a tone
  5. a person who can sing only in such a tone

Etymology: < LL monotonus: see monotonous

adjective

monotonous

monotone Related Forms
mon′o·ton′ic (-tän′ik) adjective
monotone Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • drone: He rushed to open a third story window after listening to hours of droning monotone on the Cardiff Bay Barrage Bill.

Adjective modifier

  • low: A low monotone or a high-pitched voice can be difficult to understand or grating to the ears.
  • grumpy: I apologize to everyone who had to listen to my grumpy monotone that night [ won't have that, it was quality!
  • dull: Is this her way of turning herself into a dull monotone, freeing herself from my sterile posing?
  • flat: All the men dress in black and whisper in flat monotones and all the ' baddies ' speak in dodgy central European accents.
  • strange: From a distance you could hear him talking loudly to himself in a strange, unearthly monotone.

Modifies a noun

  • voice: Then he said in a monotone voice: " Patent is granted, whatever Microsoft wants is completely fine.
  • function: Is success in the marketplace a monotone function of achieved dependability?
  • vocal: Chugging guitars and monotone vocals are their main asset, but they pull off the melodic rock thing off pretty well.
  • transformation: In any case, when measuring retrieval effectiveness any strictly monotone transformation of the measure will do just as well.
  • guy: That well paid job you've got in that building with those monotone guys in suits?
  • color: The intrigue is further deepened by large areas of uncovered canvas and monotone color.