tone

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: tōn, IPA ^(key): /təʊn/
• (US) enPR: tōn, IPA ^(key): /toʊn/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular tone

Plural tones

1. (music) A specific pitch.

   "What's your favourite tone?" asked the teacher of music.

2. The character of a sound, especially the timbre of an instrument or voice.

   He needed more practice to get proper control of the tone on his oboe.

3. General character, mood, or trend.

   I don't like the tone of your tenant.

4. (linguistics) The pitch of a word that distinguishes a difference in meaning, for example in Chinese.
5. The manner in which speech or writing is expressed.
6. The quality or shade of a colour.

   She was surprised at how many tones of sage green there were in the paint shop.

7. The definition and firmness of a muscle or organ.
8. (biology) 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.
9. (biology) Normal tension or responsiveness to stimuli.

Verb

Plain form tone

Third-person singular tones

Past tense toned

Past participle toned

Present participle toning

1. (transitive) To give a particular tone to (something).
2. (transitive) To change the colour of (something).

   The landlord asked the painter to tone the border a bit.

3. (transitive) To make (something) firmer.

   He found doing more sit ups helped to tone his muscles.