Entry Word: tone

Function: noun

Meaning: 1 a distinctive way of putting ideas into words <the angry tone of his letter makes it clear he doesn't want to speak to me ever again> — see style 1
2 a property that becomes apparent when light falls on an object and by which things that are identical in form can be distinguished <fall fashions in deep jewel tones> — see color 1
3 the set of qualities that makes a person, a group of people, or a thing different from others <all that show-biz glitz is out of keeping with the tone of the college> — see nature 1