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

in an undertone

in 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

It was this profound and continual undertone that gave the clergyman his most appropriate power.
牧师正是靠了这种深邃而持续的低沉语调而获得了恰到好处的力量。
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。
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。
Hung-chien and his wife heard it all very clearly and blushed simultaneously, but could not easily refute it, since wen-wan's question was spoken in an undertone as though not meant for their ears.
鸿渐夫妇全听清了，脸同时发红，可是不便驳答，因为文纨问的声音低得似乎不准备给他们听见。
A remark made in an undertone so as to be inaudible to others nearby.
窃窃私语小声说出以不让旁边其他人听到的话。
If you're fair-skinned, go for a shade of dress that is more pink or peach in its undertone.
如果你是浅白肤色，就穿一条底色以粉色或桃红色为主的礼服。
There is also a suspicion that Chuan Ying Lou seems to carry an erotic undertone& does it in any way reflect my romances?
又怀疑着这钏影楼三字，好像是个香艳的名词，有没有我的什么罗曼史在里面？
Mrs. Fisher added in an undertone to Selden.
费雪太太小声对赛尔登说。
But, throughout it all, and through the whole discourse, there had been a certain deep, sad undertone of pathos, which could not be interpreted otherwise than as the natural regret of one soon to pass away.
但是，贯穿布道词始终的，一直有某种低沉、哀伤的悲调，使人们只能将其解释为一个即将告别人世的人的自然的仟悔。
But he did call me to answer. I stood up slowly from my chair with a blush on my face and stated in an undertone due to lack of confidence.
但是他还是点了我，我从椅子上缓慢地站起来，脸煞得红了，因为没有自信，我很小声地回答了他的问题。