- [countable]
the quality of somebody’s voice, especially expressing a particular emotion 语气；口气；腔调；口吻 speaking in hushed/low/clipped/measured, etc. tones 以压低、低沉、短促、缓慢谨慎等的语调讲话 a conversational tone 交谈的语气 a tone of surprise 惊奇的口气 Don't speak to me in that tone of voice (= in that unpleasant way). 别用那种口吻跟我讲话。 There's not need to take that tone (= speak critically or rudely) with me—it's not my fault we're late. 没必要用那种口气跟我说话——我们迟到不是我的错。
Extra Examples‘You ought to have thought of them,’ she said in a reproachful tone. 她用责备的语气说道：“你当时应当想到他们的。 ” Excuse me, I don't like your tone. 对不起，我不喜欢你说话的口气。 Her tone betrayed her impatience. 她的语气暴露了她的不耐烦。 Her tone sounded sincere but I knew she was lying. 她的语气听起来很真诚，但我知道她在撒谎。 His tone changed dramatically when he saw the money. 他一看到钱，说话腔调顿时大变。 In cool, clipped tones, he told her what had happened. 他以冷淡、爆豆似的语气告诉她发生的一切。 She answered him in a brisk, matter-of-fact tone. 她以干脆而不带感情的语气回答了他。 His tone was faintly mocking. 他的口吻略带一丝嘲弄。 The question was posed in a flat tone. 这个问题是用平淡的语调提出的。 The rising tone of her voice emphasized her panic. 她上扬的声调显出了她的恐慌。 When she heard my accent, she adopted a warmer tone. 她听出了我的口音，说话便热情起来。 We heard the dulcet tones of the sergeant, bawling at us to get on parade. 我们听到中士用“悦耳”的声音向我们大喊，让我们跟上队伍。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- deep
- low
- hushed
- …
- adopt
- speak in
- strike
- …
- change
- soften
- convey something
- …
- in a/the tone
- in tones of
- a tone of voice
- [singular]
the general character and attitude of something such as a piece of writing, or the atmosphere of an event 风格；特色；气氛；情调 The overall tone of the book is gently nostalgic. 这本书整体格调是温情的怀旧。 She set the tone for the meeting with a firm statement of company policy. 她坚定地说明了公司的方针，为会议定下了调子。 Trust you to lower the tone of the conversation (= for example by telling a rude joke). 管保你会降低谈话的格调（如讲粗俗的笑话）。 - in tone
The article was moderate in tone and presented both sides of the case. 这篇文章基调温和，不偏不倚。 a change in tone 语气的变化 The film takes a sudden shift in tone in the final minutes. 这部电影在最后几分钟突然变调了。 The newspaper said voters had been turned off by the negative tone of the campaign. 该报称，选民们对竞选活动的负面语气感到厌烦。
Extra ExamplesHe uses humour to lighten the tone of the novel. 他用幽默来淡化小说的基调。 His letter was very negative in tone. 他信中的调子很消极。 The general tone of the report was favourable. 这份报告的语气总的来说是赞同的。 The movie has a jokey tone throughout. 这部电影贯穿着一种搞笑的基调。 The music perfectly matches the tone of the movie. 音乐与影片的基调配合得天衣无缝。 The newspaper sets a high moral tone in its editorial about politicians' private lives. 这家报纸在其评论政治人物私生活的社论中设定了一种很高的道德调子。 There is a marked change of tone in the second half of the book. 这本书后一半的基调有明显的变化。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- dominant
- general
- overall
- …
- establish
- set
- have
- …
- in tone
- a change in tone
- a change of tone
- [countable]
the quality of a sound, especially the sound of a musical instrument or one produced by electronic equipment （尤指乐器或电子音响设备的）音质，音色 the full rich tone of the trumpet 小号饱满嘹亮的音色 the sweet tone of the flute 长笛甜美的音色 the volume and tone controls on a car stereo 汽车立体声系统音量和音质的控制装置
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- deep
- low
- hushed
- …
- adopt
- speak in
- strike
- …
- change
- soften
- convey something
- …
- in a/the tone
- in tones of
- a tone of voice
- [countable]
a shade of a colour 色调；明暗；影调 a carpet in warm tones of brown and orange 棕色和橘黄色的暖色调地毯
Extra ExamplesTopics Colours and Shapesc2You should use a foundation that matches your skin tone. 你应该使用与你的肤色相配的粉底霜。 Dark, rich tones will absorb light to make a room look smaller. 深色、丰富的色调会吸收光线，使房间看起来更小。 Her hair was lit with copper tones. 她的头发被染成了铜色。 muted tones of blue and green 蓝色和绿色的柔和色调
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- light
- muted
- neutral
- …
- match
- [uncountable]
how strong and tight your muscles or skin are （肌肉）结实度，健壮度；（皮肤）紧致性 how to improve your muscle/skin tone 如何使肌肉结实／皮肤紧致
- [countable]
a sound heard on a phone line (British English) （打电话时听到的）声音信号 the dialling tone 拨号音 - (North American English)
the dial tone 拨号音 Please speak after the tone (= for example as an instruction on an answering machine). 听到信号后请讲话。 I keep getting the engaged tone. 我老是听到忙音。
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- dial
- dialling
- engaged
- …
- get
- sound
- (British English) (US English whole step)[countable]
one of the five longer intervals in a musical scale, for example the interval between C and D or between E and F♯ 全音 - [countable]
the pitch (= how high or low a sound is) of a syllable in speaking （说话的）声调，音调 a rising/falling tone 升调；降调
a particular pitch pattern on a syllable in languages such as Chinese, that can be used to recognize the difference in meanings （字的）声调；字调 (in adjectives 构成形容词 having the type of tone mentioned 有…音调的（或音质的、色调的） a bright-toned soprano 声音嘹亮的女高音 olive-toned skin 黄褐色的皮肤
of voice腔调
character/atmosphere特征；气氛
of sound声音
colour颜色
of muscles/skin肌肉；皮肤
on phone
in music音乐
phonetics语音学
-toned有…音调
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French ton, from Latin tonus, from Greek tonos ‘tension, tone’, from teinein ‘to stretch’.
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