The tone of the writing is expressed as the author. The definition of tone in literature is the author's attitude toward the subject he or she is writing about. The word ton comes from the French word. A tone is a musical note or a person's actual or written voice. A newspaper article should be impartial, but a poem can be moving. His tone of voice warned me I was in trouble. It can also define the flavor or soul of a place or the nuances of meaning of a work that reflect an author's intentions. Body tone means strong, well-defined muscles.