tone

1 noun

1 VOICE SHOWING FEELING (C) (plural) the way your voice sounds that shows how you are feeling, or what you mean: “Why would I lie?” Nora asked in an injured tone. | She spoke in warm tones about her family. | tone of voice spoken (=used about someone's rude or angry way of speaking): I don't like your tone of voice. | don't take that tone with me spoken (=do not speak to me in that rude or unpleasant way)

2 SOUND (C, U) the quality of a sound especially the sound of a musical instrument or someone's voice: Your piano has a beautiful tone. | in tone (=having a particular tone): Margaret's voice was shrill in tone. | deep-toned/even-toned/shrill-toned etc (=having a low, calm etc tone): My father spoke in an even-toned voice.

3 GENERAL FEELING/ATTITUDE (singular, uncountable) the general feeling or attitude expressed in a piece of writing, activity etc: Sara had kept the tone of the meeting businesslike. | set the tone (=establish the general attitude or feeling of an event, activity etc): Unfortunately, their disagreement set the tone for the whole evening.

4 SOCIALLY ACCEPTABLE (U) the degree to which something is considered polite, interesting, socially acceptable etc: The formal setting gave a certain tone to the evening. | lower/raise the tone: That horrible building lowers the whole tone of the neighborhood.

5 COLOUR (C) one of the many types of a particular colour, each slightly darker, lighter, brighter etc than the next: The entire painting was in tones of blue.

—see also: two­tone

6 ELECTRONIC SOUND (C) a sound made by electronic equipment, such as a telephone: Please leave a message after the tone. | dial/busy AmE engaged BrE tone (=the sound you hear on a telephone that means you can dial, it is busy etc)

—see also: dialling tone

7 BODY (U) technical how firm and strong your muscles, skin etc are: Swimming improves your muscle tone.

8 MUSIC (C) technical the difference in pitch 1 (3) between two musical notes that are separated by one key 1 (4) on the piano; step 1 (17) especially AmE

9 VOICE LEVEL (C) technical the pitch 1 (3) of someone's voice as they speak: The Chinese language has several tones.

2 verb (T) to improve the strength and firmness of your skin, muscles etc: It cleanses and tones your skin. tone sth down phrasal verb (T)

1 to reduce the effect of a speech or piece or writing, so that people will not be offended: His advisers told him to tone down his speech.

2 to make a colour less bright

tone sth/sb up phrasal verb (T) to make your body or part of your body feel healthier and stronger: Aerobics really tones up your muscles.