DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 Tone v. t. [imp. & p. p. Toned p. pr. & vb. n. Toning.]
 1. To utter with an affected tone.
 2. To give tone, or a particular tone, to; to tune. See Tune, v. t.
 3. Photog. To bring, as a print, to a certain required shade of color, as by chemical treatment.
 To tone down. (a) To cause to give lower tone or sound; to give a lower tone to. (b) Paint. To modify, as color, by making it less brilliant or less crude; to modify, as a composition of color, by making it more harmonius.
    Its thousand hues toned down harmoniusly.   --C. Kingsley.
 (c) Fig.: To moderate or relax; to diminish or weaken the striking characteristics of; to soften.
    The best method for the purpose in hand was to employ some one of a character and position suited to get possession of their confidence, and then use it to tone down their religious strictures.   --Palfrey.
 To tone up, to cause to give a higher tone or sound; to give a higher tone to; to make more intense; to heighten; to strengthen.
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