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

• The warning undertone is that unless we, as consumers, purchase the components of childhood we might not get it right.
  一个微弱的声音警告说，作为消费者，如果我们不购买这些童年构成品，我们就可能做错。
• Marks a unique air, undertone and attitude towards the life
  是一种空间、是一种气息、是一种生活的态度
• The nose is full of bright berry fruit and violets with green pepper and a soft tobacco-like undertone.
  富有鲜美的干果仁水果味及伴有轻微青椒和柔软烟草味的紫罗兰香味，就像在窃窃私语。
• 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。
• 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。
• 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。
• He replied, laughing but with a undertone of regret.
  他笑着答道，不过笑声中带有一丝后悔的味道。
• In an undertone he gave me the lowdown on them.
  他低声给我有关他们的底细。
• 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。
• Most people should use a blush with a slight brown undertone for best results. Blushes with red undertones can actually make the face look heavier than it is.
  大部分人都会用点腮红来衬托肤色。然而往往腮红会让脸看起来比较臃肿。