1
- the overall quality of a musical or vocal sound音调, 音质：
the piano tone appears monochrome or lacking in warmth.
钢琴的音质单调, 或者说缺乏热情。
1.1
- a modulation of the voice expressing a particular feeling or mood语气, 口气：
a firm tone of voice.
坚定的口气。
1.2
- a manner of expression in writing写作风格, 笔调：
there was a general tone of ill-concealed glee in the reporting.
报道中有难以掩饰的欣喜笔调。
2
- the general character of a group of people or a place or event（人群、地方或事件的）总体特性, 风格, 气氛：
a bell would lower the tone of the place.
钟有损此地情调。
2.1
- mass noun informal an atmosphere of respectability or class〈非正式〉风格, 格调：
they don't feel he gives the place tone.
他们认为他没有提高这个地方的格调。
3
- a musical sound, especially one of a definite pitch and character（尤指具体的）音调。
3.1
- a musical note, warble, or other sound used as a particular signal on a telephone or answering machine（电话、应答机等的）音乐铃声。
3.2
- Phonetics (in some languages, such as Chinese) a particular pitch pattern on a syllable used to make semantic distinctions【语音】声调, 音调（汉语等语言中, 通过音节声调区分词义）。
3.3
- Phonetics (in some languages, such as English) intonation on a word or phrase used to add functional meaning【语音】（英语等语言中, 赋予单词或习语功能意义的）语调。
4
- （亦作whole tone）a basic interval in classical Western music, equal to two semitones and separating, for example, the first and second notes of an ordinary scale (such as C and D, or E and F sharp); a major second or whole step全音。
5
- mass noun the particular quality of brightness, deepness, or hue of a tint or shade of a colour色调：
an attractive colour which is even in tone and texture
一种色调和质地相配的诱人颜色
count noun stained glass in vivid tones of red and blue.带有多种红蓝色调的彩色玻璃。
5.1
- the general effect of colour or of light and shade in a picture.（画的色调、明暗的）总体效果。
5.2
- count noun a slight degree of difference in the intensity of a colour色调度。
6
- （亦作muscle tone）[mass noun] the normal level of firmness or slight contraction in a resting muscle肌肉的紧张性。
6.1
- Physiology the normal level of activity in a nerve fibre【生理】神经纤维的正常活动状态。
with obj.
1
- give greater strength or firmness to (the body or a part of it)使（身体或其部位）强壮, 结实：
exercise tones up the muscles.
锻炼能强健肌肉。
1.1
- no obj.
tone up
(of a muscle or bodily part) became stronger or firmer.（肌肉, 身体部位）变得更强壮, 结实。
2
- no obj.
tone with
harmonize with (something) in terms of colour与…颜色协调, 和谐： the rich orange colour of the wood tones beautifully with the yellow roses.
树木的深橘黄色与黄玫瑰非常协调。
3
- Photography give (a monochrome picture) an altered colour in finishing by means of a chemical solution【摄】（用化学溶液使黑白照片在润色时）变色。
派生词
toned
adjective声音清新的歌唱。
词源
Middle English: from Old French ton, from Latin tonus, from Greek tonos 'tension, tone', from teinein 'to stretch'.
短语动词
tone something down
1
- make something less harsh in sound or colour使声音（或颜色）柔和。
1.1
- make something less extreme or intense使缓和：
she saw the need to tone down her protests.
她意识到该降低抗议的调子了。