tone

¹tone

noun \ˈtōn\

Definition of TONE

1

: vocal or musical sound of a specific quality <spoke in low tones> <masculine tones>; especially : musical sound with respect to timbre and manner of expression

2

a : a sound of definite pitch and vibration b : whole step

3

: accent or inflection expressive of a mood or emotion

4

: the pitch of a word often used to express differences of meaning

5

: a particular pitch or change of pitch constituting an element in the intonation of a phrase or sentence <high tone> <low tone> <mid tone> <low-rising tone> <falling tone>

6

: style or manner of expression in speaking or writing <seemed wise to adopt a conciliatory tone>

7

a (1) : color quality or value (2) : a tint or shade of color b : the color that appreciably modifies a hue or white or black <gray walls of greenish tone>

8

: the effect in painting of light and shade together with color

9

a : the state of a living body or of any of its organs or parts in which the functions are healthy and performed with due vigor b : normal tension or responsiveness to stimuli; specifically : muscular tonus

10

a : healthy elasticity : resiliency b : general character, quality, or trend <a city's upbeat tone> c : frame of mind : mood

Examples of TONE

1. He replied in a friendly tone.
2. They spoke in hushed tones.
3. Don't use that rude tone of voice with me.
4. the low tones of an organ
5. The speech had religious tones to it.
6. The author's tone shows her attitude toward the subject.
7. The professor's condescending tone irritated some students.
8. a bright, dark, or light tone of blue
9. the soft tones of the painting

Origin of TONE

Middle English, from Anglo-French tun, ton, from Latin tonus tension, tone, from Greek tonos, literally, act of stretching; akin to Greek teinein to stretch — more at thin

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to TONE

Synonyms: fashion, locution, manner, mode, phraseology, style, vein

Related Words: address, delivery, elocution; archaism, colloquialism, regionalism; acceptation, connotation, denotation, expression, idiom

Near Antonyms: achromatism

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Rhymes with TONE

blown, bone, clone, cone, crone, drone, flown, groan, grown, hone, known, loan, lone, moan, Mon, none, own, phone, pone, prone, Rhône, roan, Saône, scone, sone, stone, throne, zone