FluentPlex

tone

/ˈtoʊn/ noun A2
  1. A specific pitch.
  2. (in the diatonic scale) An interval of a major second.
  3. (in a Gregorian chant) A recitational melody.
  4. The character of a sound, especially the timbre of an instrument or voice.
  5. The pitch of a word's sound that distinguishes a difference in meaning, as for example in Chinese.
  6. A whining style of speaking; a kind of mournful or artificial strain of voice; an affected speaking with a measured rhythm and a regular rise and fall of the voice. (dated) · Children often read with a tone.
  7. The manner in which speech or writing is expressed, especially the aspects of diction (word choice), connotation, emotiveness, and register.
  8. The shade or quality of a colour.

Plural tones

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From the library

Just assume the tone and manner of a husband, and see how she will remind you that your hour is not yet come!”
The Count of Monte Cristo, p. 26 · C1
“Spare no money,” she said in a dead, even tone.
The Valley of Fear, p. 56 · C1
He replied, however, in a tone of deep interest:
The Count of Monte Cristo, p. 59 · C1
“But,” asked Danglars, in a timid tone, “how did you manage about the other formalities—the contract—the settlement?”
The Count of Monte Cristo, p. 27 · C1

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Words, meanings, pronunciations and translations from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0); how common each word is from wordfreq. Made into this dictionary by FluentPlex.