n (1)声音(尤指音调，音质)(sound that has a distinct pitch，duration，loudness and quality)[C]：a voice with a full/clear/ringing/harsh/shrill～洪亮/清晰/响亮/刺耳/尖利的嗓音;heart～s 心音;〖同〗pitch，sound，quality，note，intonation，accent，stress;

(2)语调(气)，口吻(way in which one says sth esp to show one's feelings)[C常pl]：speak in an apologetic/impatient/entreating～以抱歉/不耐烦/恳求的口吻讲话;speak in a quiet/sincere～ 用温和/真诚的口吻讲话;speak (talk) to sb in a～of command/reproach/regret 用命令/指责/抱歉的语气对某人讲话(和某人谈话);speak in～s of disapproval/approval 以不赞同/赞同的口吻讲话;in ringing～s 以响亮的语调;The～of this letter is rather unfriendly. 这封信的语气很不友好。〖同〗attitude，mood，note，temper;

(3)(乐器的)音质(色)(quality or character of sound)[C，U]：the sweet (clear)～s of the lute/the clarinet/the violin/the piano 琵琶/单簧管/小提琴/钢琴的悦耳(嘹亮)的音色;

(4)(颜色的)浓淡，色调(shade of color)[C]：paint a picture/a room in various～s of green 用各种绿色画一张画/粉刷一个房间;a carpet in～s of brown and orange 一块褐、橙两种色调的地毯;a coat in～s of green 一件绿色的外衣;the room furnished in～s of brown 摆褐色家具的房间;a picture in warm/dull/bright～s 暖色调/色彩单调/色调明快的画;〖同〗shade，cast，colour;

(5)风气，气氛(general quality or atmosphere)[U，a～]：the～of society/a school 社会风气/校风;lower (raise) the～of a conversation/an occasion/the meeting 破坏(改善)谈话/某一场合/会议的气氛;lower/raise the～of an organization破坏/改善一个组织的风气;bring down the～of the neighbourhood 破坏这一带邻里的气氛;a debate with an antagonistic～带有敌对气氛的辩论;a quiet elegant～to the room 这个房间的雅致氛围;

(6)身体的健康状态(healthy condition of one's body or part of it)[U]：good muscular～肌肉结实;lose/recover～失去/恢复健康;

→′toneless adj 无色调(生气)的，单调的;′tonelessly adv 无生气地，单调地;-toned(构成合成词)具有……声音;͵tone-′deaf adj 不能辨别不同音调的;′tone-poem n 音乐诗;

vt 使有某种声调或色调(give the proper tone of sound;soften or change the color of painting，etc)[T+n]：T～your voice down，please. 请小点声。That red is too glaring. You must～it down. 那种红色太俗，必须换一种柔和些的颜色。～down sb's demands/sb's anger缓和某人的要求/怒气;～down some of one's criticisms/the newspaper's attack 使批评/报纸上攻击的调子缓和些;～down the colours of a picture/in sb's portrait 使图画/某人的肖像色调柔和;〖同〗pitch，sound，moderate，temper;

tone in (v adv)与……和谐;颜色与……谐调(vi)：Black shoes would～in better with your coat. 黑鞋和你的外衣搭配会更谐调一些。

tone up (v adv)(使)发亮(结实)，(使)加强或提高(vt)：Swimming is the best way to～up your muscles. 游泳是使肌肉结实的最好方法。Some people take vitamins to～up the system. 有些人吃维生素来提高身体素质。

【辨异】tone 与noise、sound和voice的区别见NOISE。