I. ˈtōn noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French tun, ton, from Latin tonus tension, tone, from Greek tonos, literally, act of stretching; akin to Greek teinein to stretch — more at thin
Date: 14th century
1. : vocal or musical sound of a specific quality
spoke in low tone s
masculine tone s
especially : musical sound with respect to timbre and manner of expression
2.
a. : a sound of definite pitch and vibration
b. : whole step
3. : accent or inflection expressive of a mood or emotion
4. : the pitch of a word often used to express differences of meaning
5. : a particular pitch or change of pitch constituting an element in the intonation of a phrase or sentence
high tone
low tone
mid tone
low-rising tone
falling tone
6. : style or manner of expression in speaking or writing
seemed wise to adopt a conciliatory tone
7.
a.
(1) : color quality or value
(2) : a tint or shade of color
b. : the color that appreciably modifies a hue or white or black
gray walls of greenish tone
8. : the effect in painting of light and shade together with color
9.
a. : 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
b. : normal tension or responsiveness to stimuli ; specifically : muscular tonus
10.
a. : healthy elasticity : resiliency
b. : general character, quality, or trend
a city's upbeat tone
c. : frame of mind : mood
II. verb
( toned ; ton·ing )
Date: 1660
transitive verb
1. : intone
2. : to give a particular intonation or inflection to
3.
a. : to impart tone to : strengthen
medicine to tone up the system
b. : to soften or reduce in intensity, color, appearance, or sound : mellow — often used with down
c. : to change the normal silver image of (as a photographic print) into a colored image
intransitive verb
1. : to assume a pleasing color quality or tint
2. : to blend or harmonize in color