Tone

Pronunciation: /toʊn/

Definitions of tone

noun the general character or attitude of a place, piece of writing, situation, etc.

Example Sentences

A1 She spoke in a friendly tone.

A2 The teacher used a strict tone when giving instructions.

B1 The tone of the article was informative and engaging.

B2 The politician's tone during the debate was aggressive and confrontational.

C1 The author's tone in the novel was dark and ominous.

C2 The conductor's tone as he directed the orchestra was masterful and commanding.

Examples of tone in a Sentence

formal The tone of the meeting was professional and focused.

informal I can't stand her tone when she's upset.

slang Why are you using that tone with me?

figurative The tone of his voice indicated he was not happy with the situation.

Grammatical Forms of tone

• past tense: toned
• plural: tones
• comparative: toner
• superlative: tonest
• present tense: tone
• future tense: will tone
• perfect tense: have toned
• continuous tense: is toning
• singular: tone
• positive degree: tone
• infinitive: to tone
• gerund: toning
• participle: toning

Origin and Evolution of tone

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The word 'tone' originated from the Latin word 'tonus' which means 'sound' or 'pitch'.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'tone' has expanded to also refer to the quality of a sound, the mood or attitude of a piece of writing or speech, and the general character or attitude of a person or place.