tone

Meaning

Noun

1. A specific pitch.
2. (in the diatonic scale) An interval of a major second.
3. (in a Gregorian chant) A recitational melody.
4. The character of a sound, especially the timbre of an instrument or voice.
5. The pitch of a word's sound that distinguishes a difference in meaning, as for example in Chinese.
6. (dated) A whining style of speaking; a kind of mournful or artificial strain of voice; an affected speaking with a measured rhythm and a regular rise and fall of the voice.
7. The manner in which speech or writing is expressed, especially the aspects of diction (word choice), connotation, emotiveness, and register.
8. (obsolete) State of mind; temper; mood.
9. The shade or quality of a colour.
10. The favourable effect of a picture produced by the combination of light and shade, or of colours.
11. The definition and firmness of a muscle or organ; see also: tonus.
12. 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.
13. Normal tension or responsiveness to stimuli.
14. (slang) a gun
15. (figuratively) The general character, atmosphere, mood, or vibe (of a situation, place, etc.).
16. (figuratively) The quality of being respectable or admirable.

Verb

1. (transitive) to give a particular tone to
2. (transitive) to change the colour of
3. (transitive) to make (something) firmer
4. (transitive) to utter with an affected tone.

Pron

the one (of two)

Synonyms

tune

pitch

sound

🔉

note

voice

tint

intonation

accent

shade

hue

key

🔑

timbre

tincture

tinge

tonicity

tonality

spirit

color

mood

intone

tonus

strain

rhythm

ring

💍

quality

style

strengthen

colour

melody

air

stress

tone of voice

whole step

pure tone

undertone

whole tone

noise

musical note

beep

timber

flavour

modulate

step

chant

inflect

look

tone up

cast

smell

👃

discolour

Translations

tono

ton

Ton

tom

toon

tono

to

Stimmung

τόνος

tonalité

Klang

🔉

intonatie

timbre

Farbton

Pronounced as (IPA)

/təʊn/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: ton

Inherited from Middle English: tone

Cognate with Scots: tane

In summary

From Middle English ton, tone, from Latin tonus (“sound, tone”) (possibly through Old French ton), from Ancient Greek τόνος (tónos, “strain, tension, pitch”), from τείνω (teínō, “I stretch”). Doublet of tune, ton, tonos, and tonus.

Sentences

" I'm observing passive-aggressive behavior ", the psychologist said in a professional tone .

‘I only wish I had such eyes , ’ the King remarked in a fretful tone .