(tōn) noun
1. Sound in relation to quality, volume, duration, and pitch.
2. Physics A sound having a definite pitch, and due to vibration of a sounding body. The pitch of a tone depends on rate of vibration and its force on amplitude of vibration; its timbre is a complex resultant of concomitant vibration. If the vibration is simple harmonic motion the tone is pure; if there are complex components, the one of lowest pitch is the fundamental tone and the other components, in a simple ratio to the lowest, are partial tones or overtones. The combined result of all the partial tones gives the quality or timbre of the tone.
3. Music a The timbre, or peculiar characteristic sound, as of a voice or instrument. b The interval corresponding to one degree of the scale or staff; two semitones; sometimes called a major tone or whole tone, in distinction from a semitone.
4. A predominating disposition; especially, a frame or condition of mind; mood.
5 a Characteristic style or tendency; tenor; quality; a want of moral tone. b Style or distinction; elegance: The party had tone.
6. Vocal inflection as expressive of feeling: a tone of pity.
7. Ling. A musical intonation or modulation of the voice by which a word or phrase may be changed in meaning or function: Peking Chinese distinguishes four tones.
8. Phonet. a The acoustical pitch, or change in pitch, of a phrase or sentence: In English, a questioning is indicated by a rising tone. b Special stress or accent given to one syllable of a word, or to one of the words in a sentence or phrase.
9. The prevailing effect of a picture, due to the management of chiaroscuro and to the effect of light upon the quality of color.
10. A shade, hue, tint, or degree of a particular color, or some slight modification of it: a deep tone of yellow; red with a purplish tone.
11. Phot. The shade or color of a photographic positive picture; also, the color of a negative film.
12. Physiol. The general condition of the body with reference to the vigorous and healthy discharge of its functions. See synonyms under SOUND¹.
—v. toned, ton·ing v.t.
1. To give tone to; modify in tone.
2. To tune or modify with reference to musical quality, as an instrument.
3. To intone in monotonous recitative; intone.
4. To alter the color or increase the brilliancy of (a photographic print) by a chemical bath.
—v.i.
5. To assume a certain tone or hue.
6. To blend or harmonize, as in tone or shade.
—to tone down
1. To subdue the tone of (a painting).
2. To moderate in quality or tone.
—to tone up
1. To raise in quality or strength.
2. To elevate in pitch.
3. To gain in vitality. [<OF ton <L tonus <Gk. tonos a pitch of voice, a stretching <teinein stretch]
—ton′er noun

(tōn), Wolfe,
1763–98, Irish revolutionist and author.