τόνος τόνος, ὁ, τείνω that by which a thing is stretched, a rope, cord, brace, οἱ τόνοι τῶν κλινέων the cords of beds, Hdt.; ἐκ τριῶν τόνων of three plies or strands, of ropes, Xen.:—in machines, straining-cords, Plut. a stretching, tightening, straining, strain, tension, Hdt. of sounds, a straining, raising of the voice, Aeschin., Dem.:— the pitch of the voice, Plat., etc. measure, metre, Hdt. in Music, τόνοι were modes or keys differing in pitch, of which in early Greek music there were three, the Dorian, Lydian, and Phrygian. exertion of force, mental exertion, energy, Luc.:— generally, force, strength, intensity, Plut. metaph. the tenour of oneʼs way, a course, Pind., Plut.