Main Entry: ¹tone

Pronunciation: \ˈtōn\

Function: 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 tones> <masculine tones>; 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