tone // tones, toning, toned
    1
      Someone's tone is a quality in their voice which shows what they are feeling
      or thinking.
      `Very good,' he said in an encouraging tone.
      Her tone was defiant.
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    2
      A tone is one of the sounds that you hear when you are using a telephone, for
      example the sound that tells you that a number is engaged.
      I'm getting the ringing tone, but there doesn't appear to be anyone at home.
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    3
      The tone of a musical instrument or a singer's voice is the kind of sound it
      has.
      I wish I had a piano with a better tone.
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    4
      The tone of a piece of writing is its style and the feelings expressed in it.
      I was greatly offended by the tone of the article.
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    5
      A tone is also one of the lighter, darker, or brighter shades of the same colour.
      ...the tones of the sky.
      You need a blue that is darker in tone.
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    6
      To lower the tone of a place or conversation means to make it less
      respectable.
      He said the new people had lowered the tone of the neighbourhood.
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