Tone Meaning
/ˈtəʊn/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
nounA specific pitch.
noun(in the diatonic scale) An interval of a major second.
Sentence Examples
His stern tone and loud voice belied his inner sensitivity and caring nature.
There was a sudden change in her tone.
There was a barely veiled hostility in her tone.
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her voice had a gentle ____ that calmed everyone in the room.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He spoke in a very serious ____ to emphasize the importance of the new safety rules during the staff meeting today.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English ton, tone, from Latin tonus (“sound, tone”) (possibly through Old French ton), from Ancient Greek τόνος (tónos, “strain, tension, pitch”), from τείνω (teínō, “to stretch”). Doublet of tune, ton, tonos, and tonus.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Their tone was dissatisfied, almost menacing."
— 1850, William Cullen Bryant, Letters of a Traveller:
"We make crude visual distinctions and effectively meaningless categorizations based on average skin tones, such as black or white."
— 2017, Adam Rutherford, A Brief History of Everyone Who Ever Lived, The Experiment, →ISBN, page 81:
"But nigga don't step wrong, cuz 8ball keep a tone"
— 1993, “9 Little Millimeta Boys”, in 8Ball (lyrics), Comin' Out Hard:
"M.A.C.T.D.O.G got the tone so hoe you know it's on"
— 1994, “Murda In Da 1st Degree”, in Princess Loko (lyrics), Ashes 2 Ashes, Dust 2 Dust:
"Got the tone to ya head yo life flashing right front your eyes"
— 2002, “Mouth Write a Check”, in Project Pat (lyrics), Layin' da Smack Down:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
Her voice had a gentle ____ that calmed everyone in the room.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
He spoke in a very serious ____ to emphasize the importance of the new safety rules during the staff meeting today.