noun
tenor
TEH-nuh
noun
1
A male singing voice higher than baritone and bass, or a singer with that voice.
"The tenor hit a stunning high note in the final act."
2
The general tone, mood, or direction of something said or written.
"The tenor of the meeting turned tense once budgets were mentioned."
How to Use Tenor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the high male singing voice, or the general mood/direction of a conversation or piece of writing.
Common pairings
the tenor of the debate
a tenor voice
tenor saxophone
Word Forms
tenors plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “tenor”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ hit a stunning high note in the final act.
Etymology
From Latin tenor ("course, continuance, holder"), from tenere ("to hold") — in music, named for the voice that "holds" the main melody.