Tone

tone (tn) n. 1. Music a. A sound of distinct pitch, quality, and duration; a note. b. The interval of a major second in the diatonic scale; a whole step. c. A recitational melody in a Gregorian chant. 2. a. The quality or character of sound. b. The characteristic quality or timbre of a particular instrument or voice. 3. a. The pitch of a word used to determine its meaning or to distinguish differences in meaning. b. The particular or relative pitch of a word, phrase, or sentence. 4. Manner of expression in speech or writing. 5. A general quality, effect, or atmosphere. 6. a. A color or shade of color. b. Quality of color. 7. The general effect in painting of light, color, and shade. v. toned, ton·ing, tones v.tr. 1. To give a particular tone or inflection to. 2. To soften or change the color of (a painting or photographic negative, for example). 3. To sound monotonously; intone. 4. To make firmer or stronger.  v.intr. 1. To assume a particular color quality. 2. To harmonize in color. Phrasal Verb: tone down To make less vivid, harsh, or violent; moderate.

¹tone

noun \ˈtōn\

Definition of TONE

1

: vocal or musical sound of a specific quality  lowtones> tones> ; especially : musical sound with respect to timbre and manner of expression

2

a : a sound of definite pitch and vibration

3

: accent or inflection expressive of a mood or emotion

4

: the pitch of a word often used to express differences of meaning

6

: style or manner of expression in speaking or writingtone>

7

a (1) : color quality or value (2) : a tint or shade of colorb : the color that appreciably modifies a hue or white or black tone>

8

: the effect in painting of light and shade together with color
noun

1. A sound of distinct pitch and quality: timbre, tonality, tone color. See sounds/pleasant sounds/unpleasant sounds/neutral sounds or silence.
2. A particular vocal quality that indicates some emotion or feeling: accent, inflection, intonation. Idioms: tone of voice. See sounds/pleasant sounds/unpleasant sounds/neutral sounds or silence.
3. A distinctive way of expressing oneself: fashion, manner, mode, style, vein. See style/good style/bad style.
4. A general impression produced by a predominant quality or characteristic: air, ambiance, atmosphere, aura, feel, feeling, mood, smell. See be.
5. A prevailing quality, as of thought, behavior, or attitude: climate, mood, spirit, temper. See attitude/good attitude/bad attitude/neutral attitude.
6. The property by which the sense of vision can distinguish between objects, as a red apple and a green apple, that are very similar or identical in form and size: color, hue, shade, tint. See colors/colorless.
7. A shade of a color, especially a pale or delicate variation: cast, hue, tinge, tint. See colors/colorless.

phrasal verb - tone down

1. To make less emphatic or obvious: de-emphasize, play down. Informal soft-pedal. See show/hide.
2. To make or become less severe or extreme: moderate, mute, qualify, soften, subdue, tame, temper. See increase/decrease.

Main Entry:	accent
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	stress or pitch in pronunciation
Synonyms:	accentuation, articulation, beat, cadence,emphasis, enunciation, force, inflection,intonation, meter, modulation, pronunciation,rhythm, stroke, timbre, tonality, tone

Main Entry:	air
Part of Speech:	noun
Definition:	distinctive quality or character; style
Synonyms:	address, affectation, ambience, appearance,atmosphere, aura, bearing, comportment,demeanor, deportment, effect, feel, feeling,flavor, impression, look, manner, mannerism,mien, mood, pose, presence, property, quality,semblance, tone