Part 248

Tone, n. 1. (Physiol.) Quality, with respect to attendant feeling; the more or less variable complex of emotion accompanying and characterizing a sensation or a conceptual state; as, feeling tone; color tone.

2. Color quality proper; -- called also hue. Also, a gradation of color, either a hue, or a tint or shade.

She was dressed in a soft cloth of a gray tone.

Sir G. Parker.

3. (Plant Physiol.) The condition of normal balance of a healthy plant in its relations to light, heat, and moisture.

Tong (?), n. [Chinese t'ang, lit., hall.] In China, an association, secret society, or organization of any kind; in the United States, usually, a secret association of Chinese such as that of the highbinders.

Ton"ga (?), n. [Hind. tng, Skr. tamagaka.] A kind of light two-wheeled vehicle, usually for four persons, drawn by ponies or bullocks. [India]

Tongu"ing (?), vb. n. (Music) Modification of tone for a rapid staccato effect by the performer's tongue, in playing a wind instrument, as a flute. In single tonguing only one kind of stroke is used, the tongue articulating a rapid "t;" in double tonguing, two strokes, as for "t" and "k," are alternated; in triple tonguing, "t, k, t," etc.

Ton"ic, a. (Med.) Characterized by continuous muscular contraction; as, tonic convulsions.

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Ton mile. (Railroads) A unit of measurement of the freight transportation performed by a railroad during a given period, usually a year, the total of which consists of the sum of the products obtained by multiplying the aggregate weight of each shipment in tons during the given period by the number of miles for which it is carried.

Ton mileage. (Railroads) Ton miles collectively; esp., the total ton miles performed by a railroad in a given period.

||Tonne (?), n. [F.] A metric ton.

||Ton`neau" (?), n.; pl. Tonneaux (#). [F.] 1. In France, a light-wheeled vehicle with square or rounded body and rear entrance.

2. (Automobiles) Orig., the after part of the body with entrance at the rear (as in vehicle in def. 1); now, one with sides closing in the seat or seats and entered by a door usually at the side, also, the entire body of an automobile having such an after part.

3. = Tonne.

Ton*tine" in*su"rance. (Life Insurance) Insurance in which the benefits of the insurance are distributed upon the tontine principle. Under the old, or full tontine, plan, all benefits were forfeited on lapsed policies, on the policies of those who died within the tontine period only the face of the policy was paid without any share of the surplus, and the survivor at the end of the tontine period received the entire surplus. This plan of tontine insurance has been replaced in the United States by the semitontine plan, in which the surplus is divided among the holders of policies in force at the termination of the tontine period, but the reverse for the paid-up value is paid on lapsed policies, and on the policies of those that have died the face is paid. Other modified forms are called free tontine, deferred dividend, etc., according to the nature of the tontine arrangement.

Tool (tl), v. i. [Cf. Tool, v. t., 2.] To travel in a vehicle; to ride or drive. [Colloq.]

Boys on their bicycles tooling along the well- kept roads.

Illust. American.

Tool steel. Hard steel, usually crucible steel, capable of being tempered so as to be suitable for tools.

Too"tle (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Tootled (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Tootling (?).] [Freq. of toot.] To toot gently, repeatedly, or continuously, on a wind instrument, as a flute; also, to make a similar noise by any means. "The tootling robin." John Clare.

Top, n. (Golf) (a) A stroke on the top of the ball. (b) A forward spin given to the ball by hitting it on or near the top. -- From top to toe, from head to foot; altogether.

Top, v. t. 1. (Dyeing) To cover with another dye; as, to top aniline black with methyl violet to prevent greening and crocking.

2. To put a stiffening piece or back on (a saw blade).

3. To arrange, as fruit, with the best on top.

4. To strike the top of, as a wall, with the hind feet, in jumping, so as to gain new impetus; -- said of a horse.

5. To improve (domestic animals, esp. sheep) by crossing certain individuals or breeds with other superior.