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- DictionaryUn·der·tone/ˈəndərˌtōn/
noun
- 1. a subdued or muted tone of sound or color: "they were talking in undertones"
undertone. noun [ C ] uk / ˈʌndətəʊn / us. Add to word list. Add to word list. a feeling or quality that exists but is not obvious: an article with worrying political undertones. (Definition of undertone from the Cambridge Learner's Dictionary © Cambridge University Press)
1. : a low or subdued utterance or accompanying sound. 2. : a quality (as of emotion) underlying the surface of an utterance or action. 3. : a subdued color. specifically : a color seen through and modifying another color. Examples of undertone in a Sentence. She commented in an undertone that the music was really not very good.
5 days ago · 1. countable noun [in N] If you say something in an undertone, you say it very quietly. "What d'you think?" she asked in an undertone. Synonyms: murmur, whisper, low tone, subdued voice More Synonyms of undertone. 2. countable noun [with supp]
There are six meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun undertone. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence. undertone has developed meanings and uses in subjects including. music (1830s) medicine (1870s) stock market (1890s)
Apr 9, 2024 · undertone ( countable and uncountable, plural undertones) An auditory tone of low pitch or volume . An implicit message perceived subtly alongside, but not detracting noticeably from, the explicit message conveyed in or by a book, film, speech or similar (contrast with overtone ); an undercurrent . Antonym: overtone.
The meaning of undertone. Definition of undertone. English dictionary and integrated thesaurus for learners, writers, teachers, and students with advanced, intermediate, and beginner levels.
An undertone is the secondary tone or meaning of a literary work. The undertone is the tone under the surface—that which is not clearly visible with a surface-level reading. Sometimes, the undertone is also used to refer to more complicated tones than those readers might normally be familiar with.
