undertone

英 [ˈʌndətəʊn]

美 [ˈʌndərtoʊn]

n.  蕴涵的感情(或特质、意思); 寓意; 弦外之音

复数：undertones　第三人称单数：undertones　

BNC.18589 / COCA.18524

习惯用语

n.

in an undertonein undertones
• 低声地；小声地
  in a quiet voice

牛津词典

noun

• 蕴涵的感情（或特质、意思）；寓意；弦外之音
  a feeling, quality or meaning that is not expressed directly but is still noticeable from what sb says or does
  1. His soft words contained an undertone of warning.
     他温和的话中蕴涵着警告之意。
  2. The play does not have the political undertones of the novel.
     这部戏没有小说的那种政治寓意。

柯林斯词典

• N-COUNT 低声；悄声
  If you say somethinginanundertone, you say it very quietly.
  1. 'What d'you think?' she asked in an undertone...
     “你觉得怎么样？”她小声地问道。
  2. Well-dressed clients were talking in polite undertones as they ate.
     衣着光鲜的顾客们边吃边斯文地低声聊着天。
• N-COUNT 言下之意；寓意
  If something hasundertonesof a particular kind, it suggests ideas or attitudes of this kind without expressing them directly.
  1. The sobbing voice had an undertone of anger.
     啜泣声中隐隐透着愤怒。
  2. ...a witty, racy story with surprisingly serious undertones.
     诙谐却寓意深刻的荤段子

英英释义

noun

• a pale or subdued color
  Synonym:tinge
• a subdued emotional quality underlying an utterance
  Synonym:undercurrent
• a quiet or hushed tone of voice
  1. spoke in undertones

双语例句

• 'What d'you think?' she asked in an undertone
  “你觉得怎么样？”她小声地问道。
• Across town, at Cones, in the West Village, corn ice cream comes with a toasty undertone and a dusting of cinnamon.
  在城的另一端，西村圆筒冰激凌店（Cones）里的玉米冰激凌有烤面包的底色，外面撒了一层肉桂。
• Convicting Ms Tymoshenko for a gas deal done with Vladimir Putin, Russia's prime minister and future president, has an "anti-Russian undertone", said the foreign ministry.
  外交部称，判决季莫申科和俄国前总理暨现任总统弗拉基米尔。普金有天然气交易，有一种反对俄罗斯的潜在意味。
• Ron told Harry and Hermione in an undertone as they left Percy to it.
  他们离开珀西时，罗恩低声对哈利和赫敏说。
• His voice sank down to a steady and reproachful undertone.
  他的声音降了下去，变得平稳了，里面还带着点儿责备。
• Now she caught the low undertone, as of the wind sinking down to repose itself; then ascended with it, as it rose through progressive gradations of sweetness and power, until its volume seemed to envelop her with an atmosphere of awe and solemn grandeur.
  如今她聆听着那低低的音调，犹如大风缓吹，逐渐平患一般；然后，她又随着那步步上升的甜美和力量飞腾，直到那音量似乎用敬畏和庄严的宏体氛围将她包裹起来。
• The noise occultation was significant, and the undertone was the easiest one to be occulted.
  噪音对信号的掩蔽作用显著，其中低音最易被掩蔽。
• In an undertone he gave me the lowdown on them.
  他低声给我有关他们的底细。
• Though her expression was serious, her voice had an undertone of amusement.
  虽然她表面镇静，但声音里却流露出喜悦。
• The undertone is very clear: the foundation of the marriage at that time is not emotion but possession.
  该底色是非常明确的：当时的婚姻的基础是感情，但不占有。