tomb|stone /tuː mstoʊn/ (tombstones ) N‑COUNT A tombstone is a large stone with words carved into it, which is placed on a grave.
to m cat (tomcats ) also tomcat N‑COUNT A tom cat is a male cat.
tome /toʊ m/ (tomes ) N‑COUNT A tome is a very large, heavy book. [FORMAL ]
tom|fool|ery /tɒmfuː ləri/ N‑UNCOUNT Tomfoolery is playful behaviour, usually of a rather silly, noisy, or rough kind. □ Were you serious, or was that a bit of tomfoolery?
to|mor|row ◆◆◇ /təmɒ roʊ, [AM ] -mɔː r-/
1 ADV You use tomorrow to refer to the day after today. □ Bye, see you tomorrow. □ The first official results will be announced tomorrow. ● N‑UNCOUNT Tomorrow is also a noun. □ He will play for the team in tomorrow's match against England.
2 ADV You can refer to the future, especially the near future, as tomorrow . □ What is education going to look like tomorrow? ● N‑UNCOUNT Tomorrow is also a noun. □ …tomorrow's computer industry.
to m-tom (tom-toms ) N‑COUNT A tom-tom is a tall narrow drum that is usually played with the hands.
ton ◆◇◇ /tʌ n/ (tons )
1 N‑COUNT [num N ] A ton is a unit of weight that is equal to 2240 pounds in Britain and to 2000 pounds in the United States. □ [+ of ] Hundreds of tons of oil spilled into the sea. □ Getting rid of rubbish can cost $100 a ton.
2 N‑COUNT A ton is the same as a tonne .
3 PHRASE If someone comes down on you like a ton of bricks , they are extremely angry with you and tell you off because of something wrong that you have done. [INFORMAL ] □ If you do something awful they all come down on you like a ton of bricks.
4 PHRASE If you say that something weighs a ton , you mean that it is extremely heavy. [INFORMAL ]
to|nal /toʊ n ə l/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Tonal means relating to the qualities or pitch of a sound or to the tonality of a piece of music. □ There is little tonal variety in his voice. □ …tonal music.
to|nal|ity /toʊnæ l I ti/ (tonalities ) N‑VAR Tonality is the presence of a musical key in a piece of music. [TECHNICAL ]
tone ◆◇◇ /toʊ n/ (tones , toning , toned )
1 N‑COUNT [usu pl] The tone of a sound is its particular quality. □ Cross could hear him speaking in low tones to Sarah. □ [+ of ] …the clear tone of the bell.
2 N‑COUNT Someone's tone is a quality in their voice which shows what they are feeling or thinking. □ [+ of ] I still didn't like his tone of voice. □ Her tone implied that her patience was limited.
3 N‑SING [oft in N ] The tone of a speech or piece of writing is its style and the opinions or ideas expressed in it. □ [+ of ] The spokesman said the tone of the letter was very friendly. □ His comments to reporters were conciliatory in tone.
4 N‑SING The tone of a place or an event is its general atmosphere. □ The front desk, with its friendly, helpful staff, sets the tone for the rest of the store.
5 N‑UNCOUNT The tone of someone's body, especially their muscles, is its degree of firmness and strength. □ …stretch exercises that aim to improve muscle tone.
6 VERB Something that tones your body makes it firm and strong. □ [V n] This movement lengthens your spine and tones the spinal nerves. □ [V -ing] Try these toning exercises before you start the day. □ [V -ed] …finely toned muscular bodies. ● PHRASAL VERB Tone up means the same as tone . □ [V P n] Exercise tones up your body. □ [V -ed P ] Although it's not strenuous exercise, you feel toned-up, supple and relaxed. [Also V n P ]
7 N‑VAR A tone is one of the lighter, darker, or brighter shades of the same colour. □ Each brick also varies slightly in tone, texture and size.
8 N‑SING A tone is one of the sounds that you hear when you are using a phone, for example the sound that tells you that a number is engaged or busy, or no longer exists.
9 → see also dialling tone , ring tone
10 PHRASE If you say that something lowers the tone of a place or event, you mean that it is not appropriate and makes the place or event seem less respectable. □ Councillors say plastic-framed windows lower the tone of the neighbourhood.
▸ tone down
1 PHRASAL VERB If you tone down something that you have written or said, you make it less forceful, severe, or offensive. □ [V P n] The fiery right-wing leader toned down his militant statements after the meeting. □ [V n P ] We have had to ask the agency and their client to tone their ads down.
2 PHRASAL VERB If you tone down a colour or a flavour, you make it less bright or strong. □ [V P n] When Ken Hom wrote his first book for the BBC he was asked to tone down the spices and garlic in his recipes. [Also V n P ]
▸ tone up → see tone 6
-toned /-toʊ nd/ COMB -toned combines with adjectives to indicate that something has a particular kind of tone. □ …soft, pastel-toned drawings.
to ne-dea f ADJ If you say that someone is tone-deaf , you mean that they cannot sing in tune or recognize different tunes.
tone|less /toʊ nləs/ ADJ A toneless voice is dull and does not express any feeling. [WRITTEN ] ● tone|less|ly ADV [ADV after v] □ 'That's most kind of him,' Eleanor said tonelessly.