tone
♦ tone /t'oʊn/ (tones toning toned)
1 [N-COUNT] with supp, usu pl
The tone of a sound is its particular quality.
Cross could hear him speaking in low tones to Sarah.
...the clear tone of the bell.
2 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
Someone's tone is a quality in their voice which shows what they are feeling or thinking.
I still didn't like his tone of voice...
Her tone implied that her patience was limited.
3 [N-SING] also in N
The tone of a speech or piece of writing is its style and the opinions or ideas expressed in it.
The spokesman said the tone of the letter was very friendly...
His comments to reporters were conciliatory in tone...
4 [N-SING] the N, usu with supp
The tone of a place or an event is its general atmosphere.
The service desk at the entrance, with its friendly, helpful and efficient staff, sets the tone for the rest of the store.
5 [N-UNCOUNT]
The tone of someone's body, especially their muscles, is its degree of firmness and strength.
...stretch exercises that aim to improve muscle tone...
6 [VERB] V n, V-ing, V-ed
Something that tones your body makes it firm and strong.
This movement lengthens your spine and tones the spinal nerves...
Try these toning exercises before you start the day.
...finely toned muscular bodies.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V-ed P
Tone up means the same as tone.
Exercise tones up your body...
Although it's not strenuous exercise, you feel toned-up, supple and relaxed.
7 [N-VAR]
A tone is one of the lighter, darker, or brighter shades of the same colour.
Each brick also varies slightly in tone, texture and size...
8 [N-SING] usu with supp
A tone is one of the sounds that you hear when you are using a telephone, for example the sound that tells you that a number is engaged or busy, or no longer exists.
9
see also dialling tone, ring tone
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that something lowers the tone of a place or event, you mean that it is not appropriate and makes the place or event seem less respectable.
Councillors say plastic-framed windows lower the tone of the neighbourhood.dial tone (dial tones)
[N-COUNT]
The dial tone is the same as the dialling tone. (AM)dial|ling tone (dialling tones)
[N-COUNT]
The dialling tone is the noise which you hear when you pick up a telephone receiver and which means that you can dial the number you want. (BRIT; in AM, use dial tone)ring tone (ring tones)
[N-COUNT]
The ring tone is the sound made by a telephone, especially a mobile phone, when it rings.
They offer 70 hours' standby time, 2hr 50min talk time, and 15 ring tones.tone down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you tone down something that you have written or said, you make it less forceful, severe, or offensive.
The fiery right-wing leader toned down his militant statements after the meeting...
We have had to ask the agency and their client to tone their ads down.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you tone down a colour or a flavour, you make it less bright or strong.
When Ken Hom wrote his first book for the BBC he was asked to tone down the spices and garlic in his recipes.tone up
see tone 6
1 [N-COUNT] with supp, usu pl
The tone of a sound is its particular quality.
Cross could hear him speaking in low tones to Sarah.
...the clear tone of the bell.
2 [N-COUNT] usu with supp
Someone's tone is a quality in their voice which shows what they are feeling or thinking.
I still didn't like his tone of voice...
Her tone implied that her patience was limited.
3 [N-SING] also in N
The tone of a speech or piece of writing is its style and the opinions or ideas expressed in it.
The spokesman said the tone of the letter was very friendly...
His comments to reporters were conciliatory in tone...
4 [N-SING] the N, usu with supp
The tone of a place or an event is its general atmosphere.
The service desk at the entrance, with its friendly, helpful and efficient staff, sets the tone for the rest of the store.
5 [N-UNCOUNT]
The tone of someone's body, especially their muscles, is its degree of firmness and strength.
...stretch exercises that aim to improve muscle tone...
6 [VERB] V n, V-ing, V-ed
Something that tones your body makes it firm and strong.
This movement lengthens your spine and tones the spinal nerves...
Try these toning exercises before you start the day.
...finely toned muscular bodies.
[PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V-ed P
Tone up means the same as tone.
Exercise tones up your body...
Although it's not strenuous exercise, you feel toned-up, supple and relaxed.
7 [N-VAR]
A tone is one of the lighter, darker, or brighter shades of the same colour.
Each brick also varies slightly in tone, texture and size...
8 [N-SING] usu with supp
A tone is one of the sounds that you hear when you are using a telephone, for example the sound that tells you that a number is engaged or busy, or no longer exists.
9
see also dialling tone, ring tone
10 [PHRASE] V inflects
If you say that something lowers the tone of a place or event, you mean that it is not appropriate and makes the place or event seem less respectable.
Councillors say plastic-framed windows lower the tone of the neighbourhood.dial tone (dial tones)
[N-COUNT]
The dial tone is the same as the dialling tone. (AM)dial|ling tone (dialling tones)
[N-COUNT]
The dialling tone is the noise which you hear when you pick up a telephone receiver and which means that you can dial the number you want. (BRIT; in AM, use dial tone)ring tone (ring tones)
[N-COUNT]
The ring tone is the sound made by a telephone, especially a mobile phone, when it rings.
They offer 70 hours' standby time, 2hr 50min talk time, and 15 ring tones.tone down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), V n P
If you tone down something that you have written or said, you make it less forceful, severe, or offensive.
The fiery right-wing leader toned down his militant statements after the meeting...
We have had to ask the agency and their client to tone their ads down.
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P n (not pron), also V n P
If you tone down a colour or a flavour, you make it less bright or strong.
When Ken Hom wrote his first book for the BBC he was asked to tone down the spices and garlic in his recipes.tone up
see tone 6