Topic: LINGUISTICS
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| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Latin |
| Origin: | tonus 'tension, tone', from Greek tonos |
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tone1 W2
1 the way your voice sounds, which shows how you are feeling or what you mean Her tone was sharp with anger.
voice
[countable]Her tone was sharp with anger. don't take that tone with me (=do not speak to me in that rude or unpleasant way)
2 the quality of a sound, especially the sound of a musical instrument or someone's voice [↪ pitch, timbre]: the guitar's clean tone
sound
[uncountable and countable]CSthe guitar's clean tone3 the general feeling or attitude expressed in a piece of writing, a speech, an activity etc The meetings were noted for their deeply religious tone.
general feeling/attitude
[singular, uncountable]The meetings were noted for their deeply religious tone. set the tone (for/of something) (=establish the general attitude or feeling of an event, activity etc) Opening remarks are important since they set the tone for the rest of the interview.
Opening remarks are important since they set the tone for the rest of the interview.4 one of the many types of a particular colour, each slightly darker, lighter, brighter etc than the next [= shade]Perhaps a darker tone would be better.
colour
[uncountable and countable]CC tone of different tones of green
different tones of greenPerhaps a darker tone would be better. in tone The dried colour is slightly deeper in tone than it appears when first applied.
➔ two-toneThe dried colour is slightly deeper in tone than it appears when first applied.5 a sound made by electronic equipment, such as a telephone : Please leave a message after the tone.
electronic sound
[countable]CSPlease leave a message after the tone. dial tone American English /dialling tone British English (=the sound you hear when you pick up the telephone that lets you know that you can make a call)
busy tone American English /engaged tone British English (=the sound you hear when you telephone someone but they are already talking to someone else)
6 to make a place or event more or less socially acceptable, attractive etc : That horrible building lowers the whole tone of the neighborhood. Trust you to lower the tone of the conversation (=by making rude remarks etc).
raise/lower the tone (of something)
That horrible building lowers the whole tone of the neighborhood.Trust you to lower the tone of the conversation (=by making rude remarks etc).7 how firm and strong your muscles or skin are :
body
[uncountable] technical8 the difference in pitch between two musical notes that are separated by one key on the piano [= step American English]
music
[countable] technicalAPM9 how high or low your voice is when you produce different sounds :
