A tenor is a male singer whose voice is fairly high.
...a free, open-air concert given by the acclaimed Italian tenor.
2. adjective
A tenor saxophone or other musical instrument has a range of notes that are of a fairly low pitch.
...one of the best tenor sax players ever.
3. singular noun [with poss]
The tenor of something is the general meaning or mood that it expresses.
[formal]
The whole tenor of discussions has changed. [+ of]
Her dreams were troubled, reflecting the tenor of her waking hours.
Synonyms: meaning, trend, drift, way More Synonyms of tenor
tenor in British English
(ˈtɛnə)
noun
1. music
a.
the male voice intermediate between alto and baritone, having a range approximately from the B a ninth below middle C to the G a fifth above it
b.
a singer with such a voice
c.
a saxophone, horn, recorder, etc, intermediate in compass and size between the alto and baritone or bass
d.
(as modifier)
a tenor sax
2.
general drift of thought; purpose
to follow the tenor of an argument
3.
a.
(in early polyphonic music) the part singing the melody or the cantus firmus
b.
(in four-part harmony) the second lowest part lying directly above the bass
4. bell-ringing
a.
the heaviest and lowest-pitched bell in a ring
b.
(as modifier)
a tenor bell
5.
a settled course of progress
6. archaic
general tendency
7. finance
the time required for a bill of exchange or promissory note to become due for payment
8. law
a.
the exact words of a deed, etc, as distinct from their effect
b.
an exact copy or transcript
Derived forms
tenorless (ˈtenorless)
adjective
Word origin
C13 (originally: general meaning or sense): from Old French tenour, from Latin tenor a continuous holding to a course, from tenēre to hold; musical sense via Italian tenore, referring to the voice part that was continuous, that is, to which the melody wasassigned
tenor in American English
(ˈtɛnər)
noun
1.
general course or tendency
the even tenor of my life
2.
general meaning; drift; purport
3.
in a metaphor, that term or concept that is described in a figurative way by the vehicle
see also vehicle (sense 3)
4. Obsolete
general character or nature
5.
the exact wording or an exact copy of a legal document
6.
a.
the range of a voice, often, specif., an adult male voice, between baritone and countertenor, usually from about an octave below middle C to an octave above
b.
a voice or singer with such a range
c.
an instrument with a similar range within its family, as a tenor saxophone
d.
a part for such a voice or instrument
7.
in four-part harmony, the second lowest part
8.
in a set of bells for ringing changes, the bell with the lowest tone
adjective
9.
of, for, or having the range of a tenor
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈtendency
Word origin
OFr < L tenere, to hold: see tenant; (sense 6a) ME < MFr tenour < It tenore < L tenor, a holding: the tenor voice “held” the melody (canto fermo)
Examples of 'tenor' in a sentence
tenor
We can sing classical music as a bass and tenor.
The Sun (2009)
Now he is learning the tenor saxophone so he can play more jazz.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This is a heavy role for a lyric tenor.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Already in the search for a third sensational tenor one must come to grief.
Susie Gilbert and Jay Shir A TALE OF FOUR HOUSES: Opera at Covent Garden, La Scala, Vienna and the Met since1945 (2003)
He possessed a fine tenor voice and had an abiding love of church music.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You need to know that being a tenor is just part of who you are.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The voice of any fine Italian tenor has sunlight in it.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The popular Italian tenor offers arias and ballads.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The Italian tenor performs arias and romantic ballads.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Popular Italian tenor sings opera arias and throbbing ballads.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Bad provincial Italian tenor habits creep in at times.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The Munich audience demanded tenor and soprano back again and again for their curtain calls.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He followed with his one-man duet where he sang both soprano and tenor.
Chris Gidney CELEBRATING SECOMBE: A Tribute to Sir Harry Secombe (2002)
It destroyed his tenor voice and his familiar cracked, husky tones took over.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
In the world of opera, it is rarely frowned upon if sopranos or tenors sport a few extra pounds.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
It was the general tenor.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
I like a good tenor singer.
The Sun (2007)
I've gone from a tenor to a baritone.
The Sun (2010)
A rumbling baritone backdrop to the tenor and soprano F1 motors.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Nor did the Czech tenor and bass give us the full Verdi.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It's like they've turned from a bass into a tenor.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Popular Italian tenor cruises through arias and Neapolitan songs.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The world's two top tenors sing in London tomorrow.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
But then rivalry between highly strung tenors (or sopranos ) is hardly new.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It is the most Italian of his tenor roles, so it was important for me to do it now.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
tenor
British English: tenor /ˈtɛnə/ NOUN
A tenor is a male singer with a fairly high voice.
... the legendary Italian tenor.
American English: tenor
Arabic: مُغَنٍّ تينور
Brazilian Portuguese: tenor
Chinese: 男高音
Croatian: tenor
Czech: tenor
Danish: tenor
Dutch: tenor
European Spanish: tenor
Finnish: tenori
French: ténor
German: Tenor
Greek: τενόρος
Italian: tenore
Japanese: テノール
Korean: 테너
Norwegian: tenor
Polish: tenor
European Portuguese: tenor
Romanian: tenor
Russian: тенор
Latin American Spanish: tenor
Swedish: tenor
Thai: เสียงสูงรองลงมาจากเสียงสูงสุด
Turkish: tenor
Ukrainian: тенор
Vietnamese: giọng nam cao
British English: tenor ADJECTIVE
A tenor saxophone or other musical instrument has a range of notes that are of a fairly low pitch.
...one of the best tenor sax players ever.
American English: tenor
Brazilian Portuguese: tenor
Chinese: 次中音的
European Spanish: tenor
French: ténor
German: Tenor-
Italian: tenore
Japanese: テノールの
Korean: 악기 테너의
European Portuguese: tenor
Latin American Spanish: tenor
Chinese translation of 'tenor'
tenor
(ˈtɛnəʳ)
n
(c) (Mus) 男高音歌手 (nángāoyīn gēshǒu) (位, wèi)
(s)[of speech, reply etc]大意 (dàyì)
(noun)
Definition
a general meaning or character
The whole tenor of discussions has changed.
Synonyms
meaning
I became more aware of the symbols and their meanings.
trend
a trend towards part-time employment
drift
She was beginning to get his drift.
way
Can you tell me the way to the station?
course
For nearly four hours we maintained our course northwards.
sense
a noun which has two senses
aim
a research programme that has failed to achieve its aim
purpose
direction
They threatened a mass walk-out if the party did not change direction.
path
A group of reporters blocked his path.
The tornado wrecked everything in its path.
theme
substance
The substance of his discussions doesn't really matter.
burden
tendency
the government's tendency towards secrecy in recent years
intent
a statement of intent on arms control
purport
The purport of his speech was obvious.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aim
Definition
intention or purpose
a research programme that has failed to achieve its aim
Synonyms
intention,
end,
point,
plan,
course,
mark,
goal,
design,
target,
wish,
scheme,
purpose,
direction,
desire,
object,
objective,
ambition,
intent,
aspiration,
Holy Grail (informal)
in the sense of course
Definition
the path or channel along which a river moves
For nearly four hours we maintained our course northwards.
Synonyms
route,
way,
line,
road,
track,
channel,
direction,
path,
passage,
trail,
orbit,
tack,
trajectory
in the sense of direction
They threatened a mass walk-out if the party did not change direction.
Synonyms
tendency,
attitude,
bent,
current,
trend,
leaning,
drift,
bias,
orientation,
tack,
tenor,
proclivity (formal)
Nearby words of
tenor
tenebrous
tenet
tennis
tenor
tense
tension
tentative
Synonyms of 'tenor'
tenor
Explore 'tenor' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of drift
Definition
the main point of an argument or speech
She was beginning to get his drift.
Synonyms
meaning,
point,
gist,
aim,
direction,
object,
import,
intention,
implication,
tendency,
significance,
thrust,
tenor,
purport
in the sense of intent
Definition
something that is intended
a statement of intent on arms control
Synonyms
intention,
aim,
purpose,
meaning,
end,
plan,
goal,
design,
target,
object,
resolution,
resolve,
objective,
ambition,
aspiration
in the sense of path
Definition
the course or direction in which something moves
A group of reporters blocked his path.The tornado wrecked everything in its path.
Synonyms
route,
way,
course,
direction,
passage
in the sense of purport
Definition
meaning or significance
The purport of his speech was obvious.
Synonyms
significance,
meaning,
idea,
sense,
bearing,
spirit,
import,
implication,
tendency,
drift,
tenor,
gist
in the sense of sense
Definition
specific meaning
a noun which has two senses
Synonyms
meaning,
definition,
interpretation,
significance,
message,
import,
substance,
implication,
drift,
purport,
nuance,
gist,
signification,
denotation
in the sense of substance
Definition
the essential meaning of a speech, thought, or written article
The substance of his discussions doesn't really matter.
Synonyms
meaning,
main point,
gist,
matter,
subject,
theme,
import,
significance,
essence,
pith,
burden,
sum and substance,
gravamen
in the sense of tendency
Definition
the general course or drift of something
the government's tendency towards secrecy in recent years