undertone

undertone
/un"deuhr tohn'/, n.
1. a low or subdued tone: to speak in undertones.
2. an unobtrusive or background sound: an undertone of static from the receiver.
3. an underlying quality or element; undercurrent: There was an undertone of regret in his refusal.
4. a subdued color; a color modified by an underlying color.
[1800-10; UNDER- + TONE]

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Undertone — can mean: *An underlying or implied tendency or meaning; an undercurrent *An element of an undertone series; a pitch whose frequency is an integral fraction of another *The Irish rock band The Undertones …   Wikipedia

  • undertone — [un′dərtōn΄] n. 1. a low tone of sound or voice 2. a faint or subdued color, esp. one seen through other colors, as in some glazes 3. any underlying quality, factor, element, etc. [an undertone of horror] …   English World dictionary

  • Undertone — Un der*tone , n. A low or subdued tone or utterance; a tone less loud than usual. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • undertone — (n.) 1762, low or subdued tone, from UNDER (Cf. under) + TONE (Cf. tone). Figurative sense of undercurrent of feelings, etc., is attested from 1861 …   Etymology dictionary

  • undertone — [n] suggestion, whisper association, atmosphere, buzz, connotation, feeling, flavor, hint, hum, implication, low tone, mumble, murmur, mutter, overtone, rumor, tinge, touch, trace, undercurrent; concepts 65,682 …   New thesaurus

  • undertone — ► NOUN 1) a subdued or muted tone of sound or colour. 2) an underlying quality or feeling …   English terms dictionary

  • undertone — un|der|tone [ˈʌndətəun US dərtoun] n 1.) a feeling or quality that is not directly expressed but can still be recognized →↑overtone undertone of ▪ There was an undertone of sadness in her letter. ▪ Opponents claim the policy has racist undertones …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • undertone — UK [ˈʌndə(r)ˌtəʊn] / US [ˈʌndərˌtoʊn] noun [countable] Word forms undertone : singular undertone plural undertones something that suggests a particular idea or feeling without directly saying or showing it a humorous article with an undertone of… …   English dictionary

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  • undertone — [[t]ʌ̱ndə(r)toʊn[/t]] undertones 1) N COUNT: in N If you say something in an undertone, you say it very quietly. What d you think? she asked in an undertone... Well dressed clients were talking in polite undertones as they ate. 2) N COUNT: with… …   English dictionary

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