toneless

tone ► NOUN 1) a musical or vocal sound with reference to its pitch, quality, and strength. 2) the sound of a person's voice, expressing a feeling or mood. 3) general character: trust her to lower the tone of the conversation. 4) (also whole tone) a basic interval in classical Western music, equal to two semitones; a major second. 5) the particular quality of brightness, deepness, or hue of a colour. 6) the general effect of colour or of light and shade in a picture. 7) the normal level of firmness or slight contraction in a resting muscle.

► VERB 1) (often tone up) give greater strength or firmness to (the body or a muscle). 2) (tone down) make less harsh, extreme, or intense. 3) (tone with) harmonize with in terms of colour.

DERIVATIVES toned adjective toneless adjective.

ORIGIN Greek tonos 'tension, tone' , from teinein 'to stretch' .