monotone
UK: ˈmɒn.ə.təʊn | US: ˈmɑː.nə.toʊn
n. a sound or utterance that remains at the same pitch or tone without variation.
adj. lacking in variety of pitch, tone, or expression; unchanging.
monotone = mono<single> + tone<sound>
- mono (from Greek monos, meaning "single" or "alone")
- tone (from Greek tonos, meaning "sound" or "pitch")
Etymology Origin:
The word "monotone" combines the Greek roots mono- (single) and -tone (sound), reflecting its literal meaning of "a single sound." It originally described speech or music without variation in pitch, emphasizing uniformity. Over time, it expanded metaphorically to describe anything lacking diversity or expressiveness.
His lecture was delivered in a dull monotone, putting half the class to sleep.
The robot’s voice was a flat monotone, devoid of emotion.
She tried to vary her monotone singing style by adding dynamics.
The landscape stretched in a monotone of gray under the overcast sky.
Critics described the film’s soundtrack as a monotonous drone.