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tone Definition

tone (tōn)

noun

    1. a vocal or musical sound
    2. its quality
  2. an intonation, pitch, modulation, etc. of the voice that expresses a particular meaning or feeling of the speaker a tone of contempt
  3. 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
  4. 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
  7. 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
  8. 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
  9. Painting the effect produced by the combination of light, shade, and color
  10. 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

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

transitive verb toned, ton′·ing

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

intransitive verb

to assume a tone

tone Related Forms
tone′·less adjective tone′·lessly adverb tone′·less·ness noun
tone Idioms

tone down

  1. to give a lower or less intense tone to
  2. to become softened
  3. to make (something written or said) less harsh or more moderate

tone in with

to harmonize with

tone up

  1. to give a higher or more intense tone to
  2. to become strengthened or heightened
tone Synonyms

tone

n.

  1. A musical sound

    pitch, timbre, resonance; see sound 2.

  2. Quality

    nature, trend, temper; see character 1.

  3. Manner

    expression, condition, aspect, mode, habit; see also mood 1.

  4. A degree of color

    hue, tint, color value, blend, tinge, cast, coloration; see also color 1.

tone Usage Examples

Object

  • physique: Amber works out regularly at the gym keeping her physique toned and inviting.

Converse of object

  • hush: I remember my mother telling me in hushed tones about some ' fall from grace. ' Maybe you can enlighten me more... .
  • lower: UPDATE - Issue 21 - Spring 2005 Are we lowering the tone?
  • set: Marion stormed up the first lead at VS to set the tone for the week.
  • patronize: They continually referred to her by her first name without her permission, using a patronizing tone.

Adjective modifier

  • dulcet: Within five minutes the entire crowd were playing musical chairs and dancing round the room to the dulcet tones of the Spice Girls.
  • polyphonic: Polyphonic ring tones, infra red port for connectivity & vibrate alert are just a few of the other features to be included.
  • muted: Painted in the muted tones of history, Luc Tuymans offers a chilling ultimate truth about humankind.
  • mellow: The stock pipe, although heavy, sounds much better with its quiet yet deep mellow tone.
  • neutral: The landing and all first floor rooms have been newly carpeted in a stylish neutral tone.
  • conversational: Write with a casual, conversational tone rather than a formal tone such as textbook diction.

Modifies a noun

  • audiometry: Pure tone threshold audiometry to evaluate hearing in children who are able to co-operate.
  • generator: Control the ELECTRIBE·R from an external sequencer or keyboard and it becomes a MIDI expansion tone generator.

Noun used with modifier

  • dial: Instead of buying a tuner, figure out the pitch of the dial tone on your telephone.
  • ringing: Melody Tones This allows you to select from a range of pre-set options, which ringing tone your phone will operate with.
  • muscle: Can you check to see how well defined his muscle tone is?
  • ring: The ring tone can help connect that fan to the artist.
  • skin: I mean pink, not skin tone, really pink.
  • ringback: Customers of SK telecom receive a targeted SMS with details of ringback tones that would be of particular interest.

Preposition: of

  • voice: The tone of voice should be matched to the words too.
tone Quotes

Make me thy lyre, even as the forest is: What if my leaves are falling like its own! The tumult of thy mighty harmonies Will take from both a deep, autumnal tone, Sweet though in sadness.

—Shelley, Percy Bysshe

Heard melodies are sweet, but those unheard Are sweeter; therefore, ye soft pipes, play on; Not to the sensual ear, but, more endeared, Pipe to the spirit ditties of no tone.

—Keats,John

Browse dictionary entries near tone

  1. ‹ tondo
  2. ‹ tonality
  3. ‹ tonal
  4. ‹ ton
  5. ‹ -tomy
  6. ‹ tomtit
  7. ‹ Tomsk
  8. ‹ tompion
  9. ‹ tomorrow
  10. ‹ tomography
  1. tone cluster ›
  2. tone color ›
  3. tone control ›
  4. tone-deaf ›
  5. tone down ›
  6. tone language ›
  7. tone poem ›
  8. tonearm ›
  9. toner ›
  10. tonetic ›