tenor

Tenor is the highest range of the adult male singing voice, or is a person who sings at that octave.

(noun)

Pavarotti is an example of a tenor as he has a high singing voice.

Tenor is the general course or mood of something.

(noun)

An example of tenor is the general atmosphere of tension at a tense meeting.

See tenor in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

general course or tendency: the even tenor of my life
general meaning; drift; purport
in a metaphor, that term or concept that is described in a figurative way by the vehicle
Obsolete general character or nature
the exact wording or an exact copy of a legal document
1. Origin: ME < MFr tenour < It tenore < L tenor, a holding: the tenor voice “held” the melody (canto fermo)
  the range of a voice, often, specif., an adult male voice, between baritone and countertenor, usually from about an octave below middle C to an octave above
2. a voice or singer with such a range
3. an instrument with a similar range within its family, as a tenor saxophone
4. a part for such a voice or instrument
in four-part harmony, the second lowest part
in a set of bells for ringing changes, the bell with the lowest tone

Origin: OFr < L tenere, to hold: see tenant

adjective

of, for, or having the range of a tenor

See tenor in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

A continuous, unwavering course. See Synonyms at tendency.
The word, phrase, or subject with which the vehicle of a metaphor is identified, as life in “Life's but a walking shadow” (Shakespeare).
a. The course of thought or argument running through something written or spoken.
b. General sense; purport.
Law
a. The exact meaning or actual wording of a document as distinct from its effect.
b. An exact copy of a document.
Music
a. The highest natural adult male voice.
b. One who sings this part.
c. An instrument that sounds within this range.
d. Abbr. T A vocal or instrumental part written within this range.