monotone

American  

[mon-uh-tohn] / ˈmɒn əˌtoʊn /

noun

1. a vocal utterance or series of speech sounds in one unvaried tone.

2. a single tone without harmony or variation in pitch.

3. recitation or singing of words in such a tone.

4. a person who is unable to discriminate between or to reproduce differences in musical pitch, especially in singing.

5. sameness of tone or color, sometimes to a boring degree.

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adjective

1. monotonous.

2. consisting of or characterized by a uniform tone of one color.

   a monotone drape.

3. Mathematics. monotonic.

monotone British  

/ ˈmɒnəˌtəʊn /

noun

1. a single unvaried pitch level in speech, sound, etc

2. utterance, etc, without change of pitch

3. lack of variety in style, expression. etc

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adjective

1. unvarying or monotonous

2. Also: monotonic.  maths (of a sequence or function) consistently increasing or decreasing in value

Etymology

Origin of monotone

1635–45; < French monotone < Late Greek monótonos monotonous

Example Sentences

The monotone transmission recalled the manner in which deep-cover Cold War spies for the KGB and CIA once received orders.

From Los Angeles Times

The ghost, on the other hand, who speaks in a creepy monotone, is like a relic of a long defunct amateur troupe.

From Los Angeles Times

His slow monotone and low-energy delivery eventually felled most people in the room.

From Salon

Her understated androgyny was paired with a shout-singing vocal style that had a snarly, monotone curl laced with abandon and disregard for convention.

From The Wall Street Journal

“Everyone belongs…” In a low monotone Rustin recited the six principles.

From The Wall Street Journal