1
the tenor of sth
tenor 在此指话语或文章的“基调、语气”，不是指人。
I didn't like the tenor of her question.
我不喜欢她提问的口气。
男高音；次中音
先理解核心含义，再看它在真实句子里的用法。
男高音；次中音
A musical range between bass and alto, or a voice, instrument, or singer in that range.
I didn't like the tenor of her question.
我不喜欢她提问的口气。
A musical range or section higher than bass and lower than alto.
A person, instrument, or group that performs in the tenor (higher than bass and lower than alto) range.
The lowest tuned in a ring of bells.
Tone, as of a conversation.
The choir needs two more tenors before the spring concert.
合唱团在春季音乐会前还需要两名男高音。
The tenor stepped forward and began to sing.
那位男高音走上前，开始唱歌。
The audience gave the young tenor a standing ovation.
观众为这位年轻的男高音起立鼓掌。
tenor 在此指话语或文章的“基调、语气”，不是指人。
I didn't like the tenor of her question.
我不喜欢她提问的口气。
tenor 作可数名词时指“男高音歌手”，也可指次中音声部或乐器。
The solo was sung by a young tenor.
这首独唱由一位年轻男高音演唱。
tenor range 指介于低音与中音之间的音区。
The phrase sits comfortably in the tenor range.
这个乐句很适合男高音音区。
Not this
During his tenor as CEO, the company expanded quickly.
Use this
During his tenure as CEO, the company expanded quickly.
tenor 指男高音（歌手）或谈话、会议的要旨/语气，不表示任职期；表示在某职位上的任期应用 tenure。
Not this
He is tenor, so he often sings the high notes.
Use this
He is a tenor, so he often sings the high notes.
tenor 在表示“男高音歌手”时是可数名词，前面需要加冠词 a；只有在表示音域（如 sing tenor）时才作不可数名词。
Focus on the distinctions below. Other candidates are kept compact until a reliable usage note is available.
男高音嗓音；次中音嗓音
He was known for his sweet tenor voice.
他以甜美的男高音嗓音而闻名。
次中音萨克斯管
She plays the tenor saxophone in a jazz band.
她在爵士乐队里演奏次中音萨克斯管。
歌剧男高音（歌唱家）
The operatic tenor received a standing ovation.
那位歌剧男高音获得了起立鼓掌。
谈话的语气；谈话的主旨
The tenor of the conversation changed when she entered.
她一进来，谈话的语气就变了。
时代的风气；时代潮流
The novel captures the tenor of the times.
这部小说捕捉到了时代的风气。
次中音谱号
The tenor clef is often used for the upper register of the cello.
次中音谱号常用来记大提琴的高音区。
…的主旨；…的基调
The tenor of the conversation suddenly changed when they mentioned politics.
当他们提到政治时，谈话的基调突然变了。
时代思潮；时代趋势
Her novel captures the tenor of the times in postwar Britain.
她的小说捕捉了战后英国的时代思潮。
某人发言的要点；某人讲话的倾向
I didn't catch every word, but I understood the tenor of his remarks.
我没有听清每个字，但我听懂了他发言的要点。
男高音不是人，而是一种病。
Pavarotti was the most famous tenor of his generation.
帕瓦罗蒂是他那一代最著名的男高音。
Use tenor naturally, then get feedback on meaning, tone, grammar, and phrasing.
Revisit a common error or keep this word in your review list.
记忆联想：tenor 是合唱中的男高音，音域高于 bass、低于 alto；由此联想，谈话的 tenor 即说话的‘调子、要旨’。
语域：neutral 常见场景：music、vocal performance、choral music、opera 作为音乐术语，tenor 通常指男高音或次中音，多用于声乐、合唱、歌剧等专业音乐场合；在日常普通对话中较少出现。
表示'男高音'时为可数名词；表示'要旨'、'进程'时常用单数并常与of连用
Dictionary facts from ECDICT, WIKTIONARY, WORDNET.