Toning

1 definition found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Tone \Tone\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Toned}; p. pr. & vb. n.
     {Toning}.]
     1. To utter with an affected tone.
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     2. To give tone, or a particular tone, to; to tune. See


        {Tune}, v. t.
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     3. (Photog.) To bring, as a print, to a certain required
        shade of color, as by chemical treatment.
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     {To tone down}.
        (a) To cause to give lower tone or sound; to give a lower
            tone to.
        (b) (Paint.) To modify, as color, by making it less
            brilliant or less crude; to modify, as a composition
            of color, by making it more harmonius.
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                  Its thousand hues toned down harmoniusly. --C.
                                                    Kingsley.
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        (c) Fig.: To moderate or relax; to diminish or weaken the
            striking characteristics of; to soften.
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                  The best method for the purpose in hand was to
                  employ some one of a character and position
                  suited to get possession of their confidence,
                  and then use it to tone down their religious
                  strictures.                       --Palfrey.
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     {To tone up}, to cause to give a higher tone or sound; to
        give a higher tone to; to make more intense; to heighten;
        to strengthen.
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