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tone

tone

497 3.5
How a person's voice shows their feelings or attitude
  • noun
  • /toʊn/
translation icon : tono
  • When writing her novel, she wanted to maintain a tone that was both humorous and engaging.
  • tone of voice
  • set the tone
  • emotional tone

And you can feel there's a tone to that question.

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Examples

  • Watch your tone.

  • Therefore, Price and colleagues recommended that the content and tone of correction statements be positive and respectful.

    Academic text (2013)
  • How quickly the tone changes when she wants something.

  • So this is kind of the tone that I am trying to find.

  • In which tone are you talking to people?

  • Do not use that tone please.

  • As a side comment, watch your tone with me.

  • And you can feel there's a tone to that question.

  • I don't think I appreciate your tone, sir.

  • Discussions are held with a positive tone of voice, and demeaning language is not permitted.

    Academic text (2011)

Synonyms

mood
vstone
599 2.1

The general feeling of a person, group, or place at a time

refers to the external expression of emotion, not the inner state
spirit
vstone
506 4.1

The basic character of a time, place, or action

captures how emotion and attitude are expressed through words and actions
note
vstone
356 3.7

A tone in someone's voice or writing

highlights general expressive style rather than a single quality
feeling
vstone
267 1.4

The mood or atmosphere in a place

is about how a person shows emotion through voice, writing, or action
vibe
vstone
  • Informal
200 6.4

A mood you feel from a place, person, or music

is the specific manner that shows emotion and attitude rather than sensed mood
feel
vstone
168 3.4

The general atmosphere of a place that people notice

focuses on the way emotion and attitude are communicated outwardly
flavor
vstone
  • US
105 3.1

The general impression a place or event gives

expresses personal emotion or attitude rather than the broader atmosphere
tone of voice
vstone
28 3.1

The way someone speaks that shows their feelings or mood

is the broader expression across voice, writing, and actions
tenor
vstone
24 5.8

The main meaning of something said, written or done

focuses specifically on expressed emotion and attitude rather than general sense
tonality
vstone
1 6.8

The mood of sounds, especially a voice or music

focuses more on emotion and attitude in any medium

The general mood of a talk that shows how people feel

is about how emotion and attitude are shown across expressions

Idioms

Not able or willing to notice how other people feel

Compounds

28 3.1

The way someone speaks that shows their feelings or mood

muscle tone
  • Specialized
8 3.4

A little tightness in resting muscles that keeps them ready to move

tone-deaf
  • Offensive
6 7.7

Not aware of other people's feelings or reactions

1 7.0

Unable to hear or sing the right notes in music

tone poem
  • Specialized
1 8.0

A piece for orchestra that tells a story or paints a scene

A way of speaking that sounds happy and friendly

pure tone
  • Specialized
1 5.8

A steady sound with one clear pitch, like a tuning fork

A way of speaking or writing that sounds too sweet and not real

whole tone
  • Specialized
1 6.6

An interval of two semitones used in many musical scales

chest tone
  • Specialized
7.5

A low, rich voice sound that people feel in the chest

A soft, gentle voice that makes people feel calm

12-tone music
  • Specialized
9.1

A way of writing music that uses all twelve notes in a fixed order

12-tone system
  • Specialized
9.3

A way of writing music that uses all twelve notes in a fixed order

leading tone
  • Specialized
8.4

The seventh note of a scale that is one half step below the main note and pulls toward it

A calm even way of speaking that does not show strong feeling

head tone
  • Specialized
8.0

A high singing voice that feels like it rings in the head

A normal relaxed way of speaking that sounds honest

quarter tone
  • Specialized
8.7

A musical interval half the size of a semitone used in some modern and non-Western music

quarter-tone
  • Specialized
9.3

A small musical interval half a semitone used in some music

partial tone
  • Specialized
7.7

A higher sound made when the main note vibrates a whole number of times

passing tone
  • Specialized
7.8

A note played between two main notes to make the tune move smoothly

tarnal tone
  • Archaic
9.9

A harsh way of speaking that annoys people who hear it

tone arm
  • Specialized
7.1

A light balanced arm on a record player that holds the needle and moves across a record

Unable to hear differences between musical notes

Not noticing or understanding other people's feelings in what they say

tone language
  • Specialized
8.1

A language where changes in voice pitch make words mean different things

tone-beginning
  • Specialized
8.6

How a musical note begins, showing if it sounds clear or strong

tone police
  • Offensive
7.9

People who criticize how someone speaks instead of what they say

tone system
  • Specialized
7.0

A way a language uses high or low voice to change word meaning

twelve-tone music
  • Specialized
8.6

A way of writing music that uses the twelve notes in a set order

twelve-tone system
  • Specialized
9.9

A way of writing music that uses all twelve notes in one order

A way of speaking that is too friendly and seems not sincere

How Expressive

angrily
58 1.0
tone
497 3.5

Surface Forms

tone singular
tones plural

Etymology

The word tone comes from the Greek tonos, meaning 'tension' or 'stretch'. That's why your speaking tone shows mood or attitude, because the tension and pitch in your voice change how you sound.