Tone - definition, pronunciation, transcription

*
Amer.  |təʊn|  American pronunciation of the word tone
Brit.  |təʊn|  British pronunciation of the word tone

noun

- the quality of a person's voice
he began in a conversational tone
he spoke in a nervous tone of voice
- (linguistics) a pitch or change in pitch of the voice that serves to distinguish words in tonal languages
the Beijing dialect uses four tones
- (music) the distinctive property of a complex sound (a voice or noise or musical sound) (syn: quality, timber, timbre)
the muffled tones of the broken bell summoned them to meet
- the general atmosphere of a place or situation and the effect that it has on people (syn: feel, feeling, flavor, flavour, look, smell, spirit)
a clergyman improved the tone of the meeting
- a quality of a given color that differs slightly from another color (syn: shade, tincture, tint)
- a notation representing the pitch and duration of a musical sound (syn: note)
- a steady sound without overtones
they tested his hearing with pure tones of different frequencies
- the elastic tension of living muscles, arteries, etc. that facilitate response to stimuli
- a musical interval of two semitones (syn: step)
- the quality of something (an act or a piece of writing) that reveals the attitudes and presuppositions of the author
the general tone of articles appearing in the newspapers is that the government should withdraw
from the tone of her behavior I gathered that I had outstayed my welcome

verb

- utter monotonously and repetitively and rhythmically (syn: chant, intone)
- vary the pitch of one's speech (syn: inflect, modulate)
- change the color or tone of
tone a negative
- change to a color image
tone a photographic image
- give a healthy elasticity to (syn: strengthen, tone up)
Let's tone our muscles

Extra examples

He replied in a friendly tone.

They spoke in hushed tones.

Don't use that rude tone of voice with me.

The speech had religious tones to it.

The author's tone shows her attitude toward the subject.

The professor's condescending tone irritated some students.

Their tone was friendly.

Don't take that tone with me.

The tone of the market is dull.

Please, leave a message after the tone.

Pianos are toned.

He sang or toned his verses.

Her hat tones with the dress.

'You must be Annie,' he said in a friendly tone.

There was urgency in his tone.

Phrasal verbs

tone down  — deaden (a sound or noise), especially by wrapping
tone up  — give a healthy elasticity to

Word forms

verb
I/you/we/they: tone
he/she/it: tones
present participle: toning
past tense: toned
past participle: toned
noun
singular: tone
plural: tones
Current translation version is made automatically. You can suggest your own version. Changes will take effect after the administrator approves them.
Original text in English:
Our translation to English:
Community translations to English:
    This feature is allowed to authorized users only.
    Please, register on our website at registration page. After registration you can log in and use that feature.
    Registration   Login   Home  
    ×