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

• 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。
• Mrs. Fisher added in an undertone to Selden.
  费雪太太小声对赛尔登说。
• It is the thought of sin that will keep you low at His feet, and give the deep undertone to all your adoration.
  就是因为想到罪，才使你低声俯伏在他脚前，深深地降服敬拜他。
• 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？
• 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 was an undertone of bitterness in his words.
  他话中有刺。
• 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。
• 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。
• 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。
• 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。