monotone
/ˈmɑ.nə.toʊn/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.77 in modern English
10
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
5
Unique Chars
Meaning
adj
Of a function: that is always nonincreasing or nondecreasing on an interval.
adj
Synonym of monochrome.
verb
To speak in a monotone.
Example Sentences
- "The prominence of the syllables is more monotone than in English, the intonation of the latter having a larger variation of stressed and unstressed syllables."
- "In the formal register, such variation is reduced and the talk has a more monotone, business-like quality."
- "The function f(x)#58;#61;x³ is monotone on #92;R, while g(x)#58;#61;x² is not."
- "When Tima felt like her parents were treating her like a servant, she would speak in monotone and act as though she were a robot."
- "It is no very difficult matter to be loud in a high tone of voice; but to be loud and forcible in a low tone, requires great practice and management; this, however, may be facilitated by pronouncing forcibly at firſt in a low monotone; a monotone, though in a low key, and without force, is much more ſonorous and audible than when the voice ſlides up and down at almoſt every word, as it muſt do to be various."
- "There is a water-break formed by a small terrace of rock in mid-stream, and purling with a hollow, delicious monotone—an island of pebbles is above, with here and there smaller ones near the "forks.""
Etymology
From the post-Classical Latin monotonus (“unvarying in tone”) or its etymon the Ancient Greek μονότονος (monótonos, “steady”, “unwavering”); compare cognate adjectives, namely the French monotone, the German monoton, the Italian monotono, and the Spanish monótono, as well as the slightly earlier English noun monotony and adjective monotonical.
Origin
- Source language: Latin
Word Breakdown
- Root: monotonus, -
Regional Pronunciation
- American English: /ˈmɑ.nə.toʊn/
- British English: /ˈmɒn.ə.təʊn/
Usage
Inflected Forms
more monotone (comparative)
most monotone (superlative)
monotones (plural)
monotones (present, singular)
monotoning (participle, present)
monotoned (participle, past)
monotoned (past)