Tone Təʊn Speak Speaking Voice Extra Examples I

• speaking in hushed/low/clipped/measured, etc. tones
• a conversational tone
• a tone of surprise
• don't speak to me in that tone of voice (= in that unpleasant way).

tone

1. the quality of somebody’s voice, especially expressing a particular emotion
• speaking in hushed/low/clipped/measured, etc. tones
• a conversational tone
• a tone of surprise
• Don't speak to me in that tone of voice (= in that unpleasant way).
• There's not need to take that tone (= speak critically or rudely) with me—it's not my fault we're late.

Extra Examples

• ‘You ought to have thought of them,’ she said in a reproachful tone.
• Excuse me, I don't like your tone.
• Her tone betrayed her impatience.
• Her tone sounded sincere but I knew she was lying.
• His tone changed dramatically when he saw the money.
• In cool, clipped tones, he told her what had happened.
• She answered him in a brisk, matter-of-fact tone.
• His tone was faintly mocking.
• The question was posed in a flat tone.
• The rising tone of her voice emphasized her panic.
• When she heard my accent, she adopted a warmer tone.
• We heard the dulcet tones of the sergeant, bawling at us to get on parade.
2. the general character and attitude of something such as a piece of writing, or the atmosphere of an event
• The overall tone of the book is gently nostalgic.
• She set the tone for the meeting with a firm statement of company policy.
• Trust you to lower the tone of the conversation (= for example by telling a rude joke).
• The article was moderate in tone and presented both sides of the case.
• a change in tone
• The film takes a sudden shift in tone in the final minutes.
• The newspaper said voters had been turned off by the negative tone of the campaign.

Extra Examples

• He uses humour to lighten the tone of the novel.
• His letter was very negative in tone.
• The general tone of the report was favourable.
• The movie has a jokey tone throughout.
• The music perfectly matches the tone of the movie.
• The newspaper sets a high moral tone in its editorial about politicians' private lives.
• There is a marked change of tone in the second half of the book.
3. the quality of a sound, especially the sound of a musical instrument or one produced by electronic equipment
• the full rich tone of the trumpet
• the sweet tone of the flute
• the volume and tone controls on a car stereo
4. a shade of a colour
• SEE ALSO earth tone
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/earth-tone
• a carpet in warm tones of brown and orange

Extra Examples

• You should use a foundation that matches your skin tone.
• Dark, rich tones will absorb light to make a room look smaller.
• Her hair was lit with copper tones.
• muted tones of blue and green
5. how strong and tight your muscles or skin are
• how to improve your muscle/skin tone
6. a sound heard on a phone line
• SEE ALSO ringtone
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/ringtone
• the dialling tone
• the dial tone
• Please speak after the tone (= for example as an instruction on an answering machine).
• I keep getting the engaged tone.
7. one of the five longer intervals in a musical scale, for example the interval between C and D or between E and F♯
• COMPARE semitone
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/semitone
8. the pitch (= how high or low a sound is) of a syllable in speaking
• a rising/falling tone
9. a particular pitch pattern on a syllable in languages such as Chinese, that can be used to recognize the difference in meanings
10. having the type of tone mentioned
• a bright-toned soprano
• olive-toned skin

Word Origin

• Middle English: from Old French ton, from Latin tonus, from Greek tonos ‘tension, tone’, from teinein ‘to stretch’.