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tone

Definition

  • noun: the quality of a person's voice
  • noun: vocal or musical sound of a specific quality
  • verb: to give strength and firmness to (something, such as muscles or skin)
  • verb: to give a particular intonation or inflection to
  • often used with 'down'
  • synonyms: intone, tonicity, temper

Examples

  • The seriousness of his opening statement 'set the tone' for/of the meeting. [=his opening statement established that the meeting would be serious]

  • ('Brit') I keep getting the 'engaged tone'. [=('US') 'busy signal'; the sound which indicates that the telephone line is already being used]

  • People will be more likely to listen to you if you 'tone down' your language a little.

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) And vingt-quatre Haxo, it's not an ID stamp. It's a street address. This is Jacques Sauni're. Please leave a message after the tone. Please, Monsieur Sauni're, pick up the phone. This is Sandrine Bieil. I have called the list. I fear the other guardians are dead. (..)
    2006 The Da Vinci Code