undertone
pronunciation
How to pronounce undertone in British English:
UK [ˈʌndətəʊn]
How to pronounce undertone in American English:
US [ˈʌndərtoʊn]
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- Noun:
- a quiet or hushed tone of voice
- subdued emotional quality underlying an utterance; implicit meaning
- a pale or subdued color
Word Origin
- undertone (n.)
- 1762, "low or subdued tone," from under + tone (n.). Figurative sense of "undercurrent of feelings, etc.," is attested from 1861.
Example
- 1. In an undertone he gave me the lowdown on them .
- 2. Kane smirked at the nervous undertone in her voice .
- 3. Mrs. fisher added in an undertone to selden .
- 4. He simply looked at the sea dully and swore in an undertone .
- 5. It was a subtle undertone .