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View synonyms for tone
tone
1[ tohn ]
noun
- any sound considered with reference to its quality, pitch, strength, source, etc.:
shrill tones.
- quality or character of sound.
- vocal sound; the sound made by vibrating muscular bands in the larynx.
- a particular quality, way of sounding, modulation, or intonation of the voice as expressive of some meaning, feeling, spirit, etc.:
a tone of command.
- an accent peculiar to a person, people, locality, etc., or a characteristic mode of sounding words in speech.
- stress of voice on a syllable of a word.
- Linguistics. a musical pitch or movement in pitch serving to distinguish two words otherwise composed of the same sounds, as in Chinese.
- Music.
- a musical sound of definite pitch, consisting of several relatively simple constituents called partial tones, the lowest of which is called the fundamental tone and the others harmonics or overtones.
- an interval equivalent to two semitones; a whole tone; a whole step.
- any of the nine melodies or tunes to which Gregorian plainsong psalms are sung.
- a quality of color with reference to the degree of absorption or reflection of light; a tint or shade; value.
- that distinctive quality by which colors differ from one another in addition to their differences indicated by chroma, tint, shade; a slight modification of a given color; hue:
green with a yellowish tone.
- Art. the prevailing effect of harmony of color and values.
- Physiology.
- the normal state of tension or responsiveness of the organs or tissues of the body.
- that state of the body or of an organ in which all its functions are performed with healthy vigor.
- normal sensitivity to stimulation.
- a normal healthy mental condition.
- a particular mental state or disposition; spirit, character, or tenor.
- a particular style or manner, as of writing or speech; mood:
the macabre tone of Poe's stories.
- prevailing character or style, as of manners, morals, or philosophical outlook:
the liberal tone of the 1960s.
- style, distinction, or elegance.
verb (used with object)
toned, toning.
- to sound with a particular tone.
- to give the proper tone to (a musical instrument).
- to modify the tone or general coloring of.
- to give the desired tone to (a painting, drawing, etc.).
- Photography. to change the color of (a print), especially by chemical means.
- to render as specified in tone or coloring.
- to modify the tone or character of.
- to give or restore physical or mental tone to.
verb (used without object)
toned, toning.
- to take on a particular tone; assume color or tint.
verb phrase
- to become or cause to become softened or moderated:
The newspaper toned down its attack.
- Painting. to make (a color) less intense in hue; subdue.
- to give a higher or stronger tone to.
- to gain or cause to gain in tone or strength:
toning up little-used muscles.
- to harmonize in tone or coloring; blend:
The painting tones with the room.
Tone
2[ tohn ]
noun
- (Theobald) Wolfe, 1763–98, Irish nationalist and martyr for independence.
Tone
1/ təʊn /
noun
- Tone(Theobald) Wolfe17631798MIrishPOLITICS: nationalist ( Theobald ) Wolfe. 1763–98, Irish nationalist, who founded (1791) the Society of United Irishmen and led (1798) French military forces to Ireland. He was captured and sentenced to death but committed suicide
tone
2/ təʊn /
noun
- sound with reference to quality, pitch, or volume
- short for tone colour
- another word for note
- (in acoustic analysis) a sound resulting from periodic or regular vibrations, composed either of a simple sinusoidal waveform ( pure tone ) or of several such waveforms superimposed upon one main one ( compound tone )
- an interval of a major second; whole tone
- Also calledGregorian tone any of several plainsong melodies or other chants used in the singing of psalms
- linguistics any of the pitch levels or pitch contours at which a syllable may be pronounced, such as high tone, falling tone, etc
- the quality or character of a sound
a nervous tone of voice
- general aspect, quality, or style
I didn't like the tone of his speech
- high quality or style
to lower the tone of a place
- the quality of a given colour, as modified by mixture with white or black; shade; tint
a tone of red
- physiol
- the normal tension of a muscle at rest
- the natural firmness of the tissues and normal functioning of bodily organs in health
- the overall effect of the colour values and gradations of light and dark in a picture
- photog a colour or shade of colour, including black or grey, of a particular area on a negative or positive that can be distinguished from surrounding lighter or darker areas
verb
- introften foll bywith to be of a matching or similar tone (to)
the curtains tone with the carpet
- tr to give a tone to or correct the tone of
- photog tr to soften or change the colour of the tones of (a photographic image) by chemical means
- tr to give greater firmness or strength to (the body or a part of the body)
- an archaic word for intone
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Other Words From
- toneless adjective
- toneless·ly adverb
- toneless·ness noun
- multi·toned adjective
- non·toned adjective
- un·toned adjective
- well-toned adjective
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Word History and Origins
Origin of tone1
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English (noun), from Latin tonus, from Greek tónos “strain, tone, mode,” literally, “a stretching,” akin to teínein “to stretch”
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Word History and Origins
Origin of tone1
C14: from Latin tonus, from Greek tonos tension, tone, from teinein to stretch
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Synonym Study
See sound 1.
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Example Sentences
But it was the feet inside those shoes that set the tone Sunday in the Rams’ 19-9 victory over the New York Jets.
From Los Angeles Times
New York Times: "An ace guitarist with a keen ear for jangly tones, he lends even his most pathetic characters a bit of warm-blooded humanity."
From BBC
You've got to still have some trauma, but there's a different tone this season.
From Salon
“Igbo kwezo!” he calls out again, his tone both commanding and warm.
From BBC
It marked a major shift in tone from the government, and potentially of momentum in parliament.
From BBC
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