single-toned
|sin-gle-toned|
🇺🇸
/ˈsɪŋɡəl toʊnd/
🇬🇧
/ˈsɪŋɡəl təʊnd/
having one tone
Etymology
'single-toned' originates from Modern English, composed of the adjective 'single' (meaning 'one') + the noun 'tone' (meaning 'sound; pitch') plus the adjective-forming element '-ed' to indicate 'having a tone'.
'single' entered English via Old French (Middle English forms attested) ultimately from Germanic roots meaning 'one'; 'tone' comes from Latin 'tonus' (via Old French/Medieval Latin) and Greek 'tonos'. The compound 'single-toned' is a modern English formation combining these elements to describe something possessing a single tone.
Initially the components meant 'one' and 'sound/pitch' respectively; the compound originally meant 'having a single tone' and has come to include broader senses such as 'monotonous' or 'uniform in color/timbre'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
having a single tone or pitch; consisting of one sound pitch.
The old radio broadcast sounded single-toned, with little variation in pitch.
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Adjective 2
lacking variety in expression or sound; monotonous or dull in tone.
Her lecture was criticized as single-toned and failing to engage the audience.
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Adjective 3
having one uniform color tone or hue (used of color or visual appearance).
The designer chose a single-toned palette for a minimalist look.
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Last updated: 2025/12/27 18:10