toned

1. 1
   adjective

   Physically fit, with firm, somewhat defined muscles and limited body fat.

   Years of rock climbing gave him a lean, toned physique.

   The trainer's toned arms showed years of disciplined work.

   Similarfit, firm, trim, sculpted

   Oppositeflabby, untoned, soft

   Note

   A fitness word, and a gradable one: a body can be more toned, or the most toned in the room. It echoes the verb's "make firmer" meaning, settled into a description of the result. So it pairs with what can be worked on, as in a toned body or toned arms, and it praises firmness and definition rather than size.

2. 2
   adjective

   Having a tone, color, or sound of a specified kind, as named by a preceding modifier.

   The old piano was warmly toned and full of character.

   She admired the deep-toned ring of the cathedral bell.

   Note

   Almost always the second half of a compound: high-toned, sweet-toned, deep-toned. With an adjective in front, the pair is hyphenated, especially before a noun (a sweet-toned violin). With an -ly adverb it stays open (a warmly toned piano). The modifier carries the meaning here. Without one, readers are likely to hear the fitness sense instead.

3. 3
   verb

   Simple past and past participle of tone.

   Months of training toned her legs and shoulders.

   The studio toned every negative by hand before printing.

   Note

   Every verb sense behind this form is transitive, so toned nearly always comes with an object, or in the passive with a subject that received the action: training toned her legs; the negatives were toned to change their color. After be, the participle can slide into a plain description, which is how the fitness meaning took shape.

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