See Also: undertone(dictionary)
undertone(dictionary)

undertone (iou)



undertone noun & verb. M18.
[from UNDER- + TONE noun.]
A. noun.
A low or subdued tone; a murmured or quiet utterance; a low sound. M18.
C. Chaplin Men who worked hard in a darkened shed and spoke softly in undertones.
fig.
a. An underlying or implicit element or quality; an undercurrent of feeling. M19.
C. Conran The flavour of the garlic..in the background..adds subtle undertones to the dish. G. Will Brinkley's book has an understandable undertone of melancholy.
b. A subdued or underlying tone of colour. L19.
c. Stock Exchange. The general basis of exchange or market dealings in any stock or commodity. L19.
b. verb trans. Accompany as an undertone; express in an undertone. E19.