Definition of tone
1
: vocal or musical sound of a specific quality
- spoke in low tones
- masculine tones
2 a
: a sound of definite pitch and vibration
b
: whole step
3
: accent or inflection expressive of a mood or emotion
4
: style or manner of expression in speaking or writing
- seemed wise to adopt a conciliatory tone
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
: the pitch of a word often used to express differences of meaning
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
: normal tension or responsiveness to stimuli;
specifically
: muscular tonus
b
: 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
10 a
: general character, quality, or trend
- a city's upbeat tone
b
: frame of mind : mood
c
: healthy elasticity : resiliency
