monotone

¹mono·tone

noun \ˈmä-nə-ˌtōn\

Definition of MONOTONE

1

: a succession of syllables, words, or sentences in one unvaried key or pitch

2

: a single unvaried musical tone

3

: a tedious sameness or reiteration

4

: a person unable to produce or to distinguish between musical intervals

Examples of MONOTONE

1. She read the story in a dull monotone.
2. He sang in a soft, low monotone.
3. She spoke in a monotone voice.

Origin of MONOTONE

Greek monotonos monotonous

First Known Use: 1644

Related to MONOTONE

Synonyms

humdrum, monotony, monotonousness, sameness

Related Words

uniformity; blahs, boredom, drabness, dullness (also dulness), ennui, restlessness, tediousness, tedium, tiresomeness, weariness, wearisomeness

Near Antonyms

diversity, multiplicity, variety; variability, variation; absorption, engagement, engrossment, enthrallment, fascination, grip, interest, intrigue, involvement; animation, enlivenment, excitement, invigoration, stimulation

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

Rhymes with MONOTONE

acetone, allophone, altar stone, anglophone, anklebone, barbitone, baritone, bombardon, brain hormone, buffer zone, Canal Zone, cannon bone, cherrystone, cinder cone, cobblestone, coffin bone, collarbone, comfort zone, cornerstone, cortisone, crazy bone, crumple zone, curling stone, cuttlebone, demand loan, diaphone, Dictaphone, ecotone, epigone, fracture zone, francophone, frigid zone, frontal bone, funny bone, gramophone, growth hormone, hammerstone, herringbone, hold one's own, holystone, homophone, hydrophone, ice-cream cone, ironstone, kidney stone, knucklebone, leading tone, leave alone, let alone, lithopone, marrowbone, megaphone, mellophone, methadone, microphone, microtone, minestrone, neutral zone, on one's own, overblown, overgrown, overtone, plant hormone, polyphone, prednisone, provolone, quarter tone, rotenone, rottenstone, sacaton, saxophone, semitone, sex hormone, shacklebone, shatter cone, silicone, sousaphone, speakerphone, stand-alone, stepping-stone, telephone, temperate zone, temporal bone, thunderstone, Torreón, torrid zone, traffic cone, twilight zone, undertone, vibraphone, Yellowstone

²monotone

adjective

Definition of MONOTONE

1

: monotonic 2

2

: having a uniform color

First Known Use of MONOTONE

1760

Other Color Terms

argentine, cerise, cerulean, cyan, ocher, perse, puce, taupe, vermilion