[usu. in sing.]a continuing sound, especially of someone's voice, that is unchanging in pitch and without intonation 单调的语调;单调的声音 he sat and answered the questions in a monotone. 他坐着用单调的声音回答问题。
adjective
(of a voice or other sound) unchanging in pitch; without intonation or expressiveness (嗓音等)单调的,无变化的 his monotone reading of the two-hour report. 他的两小时沉闷读出的报告。 ■(figurative)without colour, vividness, or variety; dull (喻)无色彩的;不活泼的;单一的;死气沉沉的 the monotone housing estates of the big cities. 大城市死气沉沉的住宅区。
语源
mid 17th cent.: from modern Latin monotonus, from late Greek monotonos