Толковый словарь английского языка Oxford English Reference - tone

n. & v. --n. 1 a musical or vocal sound, esp. with reference to its pitch, quality, and strength. 2 (often in pl.) modulation of the voice expressing a particular feeling or mood (a cheerful tone; suspicious tones). 3 a manner of expression in writing. 4 Mus. a a musical sound, esp. of a definite pitch and character. b an interval of a major second, e.g. C-D. 5 a the general effect of colour or of light and shade in a picture. b the tint or shade of a colour. 6 a the prevailing character of the morals and sentiments etc. in a group. b an attitude or sentiment expressed esp. in a letter etc. 7 the proper firmness of bodily organs. 8 a state of good or specified health or quality. 9 Phonet. a an accent on one syllable of a word. b a way of pronouncing a word to distinguish it from others of a similar sound (Mandarin Chinese has four tones). --v. 1 tr. give the desired tone to. 2 tr. modify the tone of. 3 intr. (often foll. by to) attune. 4 intr. (foll. by with) be in harmony (esp. of colour) (does not tone with the wallpaper). 5 tr. Photog. give (a monochrome picture) an altered colour in finishing by means of a chemical solution. 6 intr. undergo a change in colour by toning. Phrases and idioms tone-arm the movable arm supporting the pick-up of a record-player. tone control a switch for varying the proportion of high and low frequencies in reproduced sound. tone-deaf unable to perceive differences of musical pitch accurately. tone-deafness the condition of being tone-deaf. tone down 1 make or become softer in tone of sound or colour. 2 make (a statement etc.) less harsh or emphatic. tone poem = symphonic poem. tone-row = SERIES 8. tone up 1 make or become stronger in tone of sound or colour. 2 make (a statement etc.) more emphatic. whole-tone scale see WHOLE. Derivatives toneless adj. tonelessly adv. toner n. Etymology: ME f. OF ton or L tonus f. Gk tonos tension, tone f. teino stretch