tone
Definitions
The quality, pitch, or character of a sound, especially a voice
音调；音质；（说话的）语气
The general mood, character, or attitude of something (a piece of writing, an event)
基调；气氛；格调
A shade or variety of a color
色调
The firmness and slight tension of healthy muscles or skin
（肌肉、皮肤的）健康状态，张力
To give greater firmness or strength to (often 'tone up'); to modify or soften ('tone down')
使强健，增强（常作 tone up）；使柔和（tone down）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedStraight from Greek tonos, 'the pitch a stretched string makes.' That core idea — the quality of a vibration — radiates outward: the pitch of a sound, then the tone of a voice (attitude), the tone of a color (shade), the tone of an essay (mood), even muscle tone (the body held at the right tension). The thread through all of them is 'characteristic quality.'
Root ton still carries 10 more wordsWhy It Means This
Picture tuning a guitar: pull the string tighter and the note rises. That stretched-string pitch is the original tone. English then borrowed the image for anything with a 'characteristic quality you can sense' — a sharp tone of voice, warm earthy tones in a painting, the somber tone of a funeral. The body sense (muscle tone) is the quiet survivor of the literal 'tension' meaning.
Common Collocations
- 1.tone of voice说话语气
- 2.set the tone定下基调
- 3.muscle tone肌肉张力
- 4.skin tone肤色
- 5.tone down使柔和
- 6.tone up使强健
Example Sentences
- 1.
I didn't like the aggressive tone of his email.
- 2.
The opening scene sets the tone for the whole film.
- 3.
She painted the walls in warm, earthy tones.
- 4.
Regular swimming helps tone your muscles.
- 5.
Could you tone down the language a bit? It's a formal report.
Easily Confused
tone vs pitch — pitch is purely how high or low a sound is (a measurable frequency); tone is the broader quality or character of a sound, including its mood. A whistle has high pitch; an angry voice has a harsh tone. You can change your tone without changing your pitch.