undertone
undertone Lexical Profile
undertone Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An underlying quality, feeling, or meaning that is not expressed directly but can be sensed beneath the surface.
"Despite the polite conversation, there was an unmistakable undertone of tension in the room."
A low, quiet, or subdued tone of voice or sound.
"The two colleagues spoke in a hushed undertone so as not to disturb the rest of the library."
A subdued color seen through or modifying another color, or the subtle warm, cool, or neutral hue beneath the surface of a person's skin.
"The artist chose a slate gray paint with a subtle blue undertone for the gallery walls."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English as a compound of under- and tone, originally referring to a low or subordinate musical pitch before expanding in the late 18th and 19th centuries to describe subdued colors and implicit emotional meanings.