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tone

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The definition of a tone is a sound in terms of its quality, pitch, origin or power.

(noun)

An example of tone is off-key.

Tone means to soften or reduce, particularly in artistic terms.

(verb)

An example of tone is to add white eyeshadow to black eyeshadow so that it is not so harsh.

Tone is the quality or implied meaning of something that is said.

(noun)

An example of tone is sarcasm.

Tone is defined as to strengthen or firm up.

(verb)

An example of tone is to lift weights every day to build muscle.

See tone in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

1. a vocal or musical sound
2. its quality
an intonation, pitch, modulation, etc. of the voice that expresses a particular meaning or feeling of the speaker: a tone of contempt
a manner of speaking or writing that shows a certain attitude on the part of the speaker or writer, consisting in choice of words, phrasing, etc.: the friendly tone of her letter
normal resilience or elasticity: rubber that has lost its tone
1. the prevailing or predominant style, character, spirit, trend, morale, or state of morals of a place or period: the cultured tone of their house
2. distinctive style; elegance: paintings that lent the room tone
1. a quality or value of color; tint; shade
2. any of the slight modifications of a particular color; hue: three tones of green
Linguis.
1. the relative height of pitch with which a syllable, word, etc. is pronounced
2. the relative height of pitch that is a phoneme of a language and distinguishes meaning, as in the tone languages
Music
1. a sound that is distinct and identifiable by its regularity of vibration, or constant pitch (as distinguished from a noise), and that may be put into harmonic relation with other such sounds
2. the simple or fundamental tone of a musical sound as distinguished from its overtones
3. any one of the full intervals of a diatonic scale; whole step
4. any of several recitation melodies used in singing the psalms in plainsong
Painting the effect produced by the combination of light, shade, and color
Physiol.
1. the condition of an organism, organ, or part with reference to its normal, healthy functioning
2. the normal tension, or resistance to stretch, of a healthy muscle, independent of that caused by voluntary innervation; tonus

Origin: ME < OFr & L: OFr ton < L tonus, a sound < Gr tonos, a stretching, tone < teinein, to stretch: see thin

transitive verb toned, toning

Rare intone
to give a tone to; specif., to give the proper or desired tone to (a musical instrument, a painting, etc.)
to change the tone of
Photog. to change or alter the color of (a print) by chemical means

intransitive verb

to assume a tone

Related Forms:

toneless adjective
tonelessly adverb
tonelessness noun

See tone in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

Music
a. A sound of distinct pitch, quality, and duration; a note.
b. The interval of a major second in the diatonic scale; a whole step.
c. A recitational melody in a Gregorian chant.
a. The quality or character of sound.
b. The characteristic quality or timbre of a particular instrument or voice.
a. The pitch of a word used to determine its meaning or to distinguish differences in meaning.
b. The particular or relative pitch of a word, phrase, or sentence.
Manner of expression in speech or writing: took an angry tone with the reporters.
A general quality, effect, or atmosphere: a room with an elegant tone.
a. A color or shade of color: light tones of blue.
b. Quality of color: The green wallpaper had a particularly somber tone.
The general effect in painting of light, color, and shade.
Physiology
a. The normal state of elastic tension or partial contraction in resting muscles.
b. Normal firmness of a tissue or an organ.

verb toned toned, ton·ing, tones

verb, transitive

To give a particular tone or inflection to.
To soften or change the color of (a painting or photographic negative, for example).
To sound monotonously; intone.
To make firmer or stronger. Often used with up: exercises that tone up the body.

verb, intransitive