tone

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   The quality of a person's voice that shows how they feel.

   She spoke to me in a friendly tone.

2. 2
   noun

   The general mood or attitude of a piece of writing or speech.

   The tone of the article was sharply critical.

3. 3
   noun

   The particular quality or character of a sound, especially in music.

   Your guitar has a really warm tone.

4. 4
   verb

   To make muscles firmer and stronger through exercise.

   These exercises will help tone your arms.

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.

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