0
Hrsanei Posted 14 years ago
Vocabulary
Overtone vs undertone
Hi.
What is the difference between overtone and undertone?
Their dictionary definitions are very similar to each other and they are very confusing.
Overtone: signs of an emotion or attitude that is not expressed directly(http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/overtone )
Ex.There were overtones of anger in his voice
undertone: a feeling or quality that is not directly expressed but can still be recognize(http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/undertone )
Ex. There was an undertone of sadness in her letter
If you look at the examples, you see there are used almost in the same way.
Thank you
What is the difference between overtone and undertone?
Their dictionary definitions are very similar to each other and they are very confusing.
Overtone: signs of an emotion or attitude that is not expressed directly(http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/overtone )
Ex.There were overtones of anger in his voice
undertone: a feeling or quality that is not directly expressed but can still be recognize(http://www.ldoceonline.com/dictionary/undertone )
Ex. There was an undertone of sadness in her letter
If you look at the examples, you see there are used almost in the same way.
Thank you
Top answer
I see your point. I can't really explain it, except to offer analogies. Think of the amount of energy used to produce one and the other.
- I see your point.
- I can't really explain it, except to offer analogies.
- Think of the amount of energy used to produce one and the other.
- If you're playing a game (such as "horseshoes") and you overshoot , you've used too much energy and gone past the mark/stake.
- If you undershoot , you haven't used enough energy, and your projectile falls short of the mark.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
5 Answers
0
I see your point.
I can't really explain it, except to offer analogies. Think of the amount of energy used to produce one and the other.
If you're playing a game (such as "horseshoes") and you overshoot, you've used too much energy and gone past the mark/stake.
If you undershoot, you haven't used enough energy, and your projectile falls short of the mark.
"
I can't really explain it, except to offer analogies. Think of the amount of energy used to produce one and the other.
If you're playing a game (such as "horseshoes") and you overshoot, you've used too much energy and gone past the mark/stake.
If you undershoot, you haven't used enough energy, and your projectile falls short of the mark.
"
00
Thank you Avangi.
I actually got the point.
So, overtone best coolocates with anger and undertone collocates with sadness.
Thank you, that was a good point.
I actually got the point.
So, overtone best coolocates with anger and undertone collocates with sadness.
Thank you, that was a good point.
00
hrsaneiSo, overtone best coolocates with anger and undertone collocates with sadness.In this case, yes, and probably in general. But context can always create exceptions.
It's possible to have an undertone of subdued anger.
Eg, you may feel it's there, just waiting to break loose.
And all sorts of emotions may be associate
00
There may be a subtle nuance, but generally it won't sound strange to a native speaker if you use one rather than the other in most cases.
00
Hi.
Thanks Coloraday.
You used nuance with subtle. I wonder if they collocate with eachother.
Nuance already means subtle difference, so the use of subtle with nuance is kind of redundancy.
Having checked in COCA, it presents two examples for subtle nuance which is an indication of its scarce usage.
Cheers
Thanks Coloraday.
You used nuance with subtle. I wonder if they collocate with eachother.
Nuance already means subtle difference, so the use of subtle with nuance is kind of redundancy.
Having checked in COCA, it presents two examples for subtle nuance which is an indication of its scarce usage.
Cheers
0
Related Questions