tone

[ tohn ]

/ toʊn /

Save This Word!

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, ton·ing.

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, ton·ing.

to take on a particular tone; assume color or tint.

Verb Phrases

tone down,

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.

tone up,

to give a higher or stronger tone to.
to gain or cause to gain in tone or strength: toning up little-used muscles.

tone (in) with, to harmonize in tone or coloring; blend: The painting tones with the room.

OTHER WORDS FOR tone

15 spirit, quality, temper.

See synonyms for tone on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

TAKE JOY IN ACING THIS QUIZ ON “PRIDE” SYNONYMS

Hold your head up high as you embark on this quiz that explores some of the synonyms and meanings of “pride.”

Question 1 of 7

What does "dignity" mean?

showing self-respect

treating others with kindness

acting selfishly

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of tone

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”

synonym study for tone

1. See sound¹.

OTHER WORDS FROM tone

toneless, adjectivetone·less·ly, adverbtone·less·ness, nounmul·ti·toned, adjective

non·toned, adjectiveun·toned, adjectivewell-toned, adjective

Words nearby tone

tonality, to-name, Tonawanda, Tonbridge, tondo, tone, tone arm, tone cluster, tone color, tone colour, tone control

Other definitions for tone (2 of 2)

Tone

[ tohn ]

/ toʊn /

noun

(Theobald) Wolfe, 1763–98, Irish nationalist and martyr for independence.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use tone in a sentence

It’s very difficult to imagine the first installment in a studio comedy based on an original concept, especially a comedy that has the tone of this one, coming out today, at least in theaters.
The essential kindness of Bill and Ted|Alissa Wilkinson|August 28, 2020|Vox
US developer HireVue says its software speeds up the hiring process by 90 percent by having applicants answer identical questions and then scoring them according to language, tone, and facial expressions.
Algorithms Workers Can’t See Are Increasingly Pulling the Management Strings|Tom Barratt|August 28, 2020|Singularity Hub
Hamilton had spent decades prior to 1980 sifting through weather station data for hints of the lowest atmospheric tones.
Global Wave Discovery Ends 220-Year Search|Charlie Wood|August 13, 2020|Quanta Magazine
The tone of what I’m told is the Silent Generation really changed in the 60s.
What Are 7 Words To Describe The Silent Generation?|Candice Bradley|August 4, 2020|Everything After Z

Just as AI systems can be trained to tell the difference between a picture of a dog and one of a cat, they can learn to differentiate between an angry tone of voice or facial expression and a happy one.
Cars Will Soon Be Able to Sense and React to Your Emotions|Vanessa Bates Ramirez|July 29, 2020|Singularity Hub
Music is a huge part of the tone of Black Dynamite overall—going back to the original 2009 movie on which the series is based.
‘Black Dynamite’ Presents Police Brutality: The Musical|Stereo Williams|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Although Huckabee's condescending tone - like that of an elementary school history teacher - makes it difficult to take seriously.
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!|Olivia Nuzzi|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
“Call me when the plane leaves the ground,” she said, in a tone that implied she knew her husband well.
Mario Cuomo, a Frustrating Hero to Democrats, Is Dead at 82|Eleanor Clift|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He has struck a promising tone these last few days with his rhetoric about trying to “see each other.”
Memo to Cops: Criticisms Aren’t Attacks|Michael Tomasky|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ramos would help set the tone of the day when he greeted the arriving students outside the school.
In The Shadow of Murdered Cops|Michael Daly|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
That which is called nasality is caused by the failure of the tone to reach freely the anterior cavities of the nares.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
Drone: the largest tube of a bag-pipe, giving forth a dull heavy tone.
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
And once more, she found herself desiring to be like Janet--not only in appearance, but in soft manner and tone.
Hilda Lessways|Arnold Bennett
What the ear hears is the fundamental pitch only; the overtones harmonize with the primary or fundamental tone, and enrich it.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick
This may be done by taking the humming tone and bringing to bear upon it a strong pressure of energy.
Expressive Voice Culture|Jessie Eldridge Southwick

British Dictionary definitions for tone (1 of 2)

tone

/ (təʊn) /

noun

sound with reference to quality, pitch, or volume

short for tone colour

US and Canadian another word for note (def. 10)

(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 called: Gregorian 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 sounda nervous tone of voice

general aspect, quality, or styleI didn't like the tone of his speech

high quality or styleto lower the tone of a place

the quality of a given colour, as modified by mixture with white or black; shade; tinta 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

(intr often foll by with) 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

Word Origin for tone

C14: from Latin tonus, from Greek tonos tension, tone, from teinein to stretch

British Dictionary definitions for tone (2 of 2)

Tone

/ (təʊn) /

noun

(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

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medical definitions for tone

tone

[ tōn ]

The quality or character of sound.

The character of voice expressing an emotion.

The normal state of elastic tension or partial contraction in resting muscles.

Normal firmness of a tissue or an organ.

To give tone or firmness to.

tone

OTHER WORDS FOR tone

Origin of tone

synonym study for tone

OTHER WORDS FROM tone

Words nearby tone

Other definitions for tone (2 of 2)

Words related to tone

How to use tone in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tone (1 of 2)

Word Origin for tone

British Dictionary definitions for tone (2 of 2)

Medical definitions for tone