: a low or subdued utterance or accompanying sound
2
: a quality (as of emotion) underlying the surface of an utterance or action
3
: a subdued color
specifically: a color seen through and modifying another color
Example Sentences
She commented in an undertone that the music was really not very good. The play is a comedy with dark undertones. The fabric is a rich brown color with undertones of red.
Recent Examples on the WebFor tan and olive skin, browns with a reddish undertone will complement your complexion best. Abby Dupes, Seventeen, 5 Aug. 2022 McCormick suggested a warmer gray with a beige undertone or pairing gray with black or other colors to bring warmth to a space. Kaitlyn Keegan, Hartford Courant, 28 July 2022 The retro collection, with an unmissable tropical undertone, is inspired by the colorful coastline of Careyes — a bohemian paradise known for its dramatic, brightly hued ocean castles perched along the pacific coast of the Mexican Riviera. Angela Lei, Forbes, 16 May 2022 Undertone Being able to identify the undertone of your skin is a tough job, but an important step in narrowing down the shade of drops that is right for you. Alyssa Brascia, Peoplemag, 24 Aug. 2022 Logan, whose virtuosity with oil stick and pastel on paper has few peers, makes extravagantly lush, verdant images of blooming vitality laced with an undertone of dread. Globe Staff, BostonGlobe.com, 15 June 2022 Mixing a specific shade of brown can be complex as some browns lean warmer and others cool, while some brown colors have a red, yellow, or green undertone. Maria Sabella, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 June 2022 And of course, the beautiful, slightly isolating and sometimes terrifying undertone of rural Australia where things were mostly quiet and unassuming but can turn really dark at any moment. John Hopewell, Variety, 19 July 2022 Slightly honied, but more like wild-flower honey, saline undertone. Lana Bortolot, Forbes, 29 June 2022 See More
ADJECTIVE | VERB + UNDERTONE | PREPOSITIONADJECTIVE➤dark, sinister邪惡的暗示;陰險的弦外之音➤subtle隱約的弦外之音➤bitter, sarcastic憤憤不平的/尖酸刻薄的弦外之音▸➤racist, sexual種族主義的弦外之音;性暗示◇The article was full of racist undertones.這篇文章充滿了隱晦的種族主義論調。➤political, religious政治寓意;宗教暗示◇There are hints of political undertones throughout the movie.這部電影從頭到尾都能找到帶有政治寓意的內容。VERB + UNDERTONE➤carry, have有弦外之音◇His voice carried bitter undertones.他的聲音中帶着憤憤不平的弦外之音。PREPOSITION➤in an undertone用低音◇'I don't think she's been told yet,' he said in an undertone.“我認為還沒有人告訴她呢。”他低聲說道。◇The couple at the next table were speaking in undertones.鄰桌的夫婦在輕聲交談。