intonation
NounUS[in-tuh-ney-shuhn]/ˌɪntəˈneɪʃən/4 syllables
Open English WordNet
Noun (4)
- rise and fall of the voice pitchSynonyms: modulationpitch contourType of prosody, inflectionKinds monotone, singsong, intonation pattern
- singing by a soloist of the opening piece of plainsongType of singing, vocalizing
- the act of singing in a monotonous toneSynonyms: chantingType of singing, vocalizingKinds cantillation
- the production of musical tones (by voice or instrument); especially the exactitude of the pitch relationsType of musicKinds fixed intonation
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Webster's Dictionary (1913)
In′to·na′tion noun
Origin: See 1st Intonate.
A thundering; thunder. obsolete Nathan Bailey
In′to·na′tion noun
Origin: Cf. F. intonation. See Intone.
1. Music (a) The act of sounding the tones of the musical scale. (b) Singing or playing in good tune or otherwise; as, her intonation was false. (c) Reciting in a musical prolonged tone; intonating, or singing of the opening phrase of a plain-chant, psalm, or canticle by a single voice, as of a priest. See Intone, transitive verb
2. The manner of speaking, especially the placement of emphasis, the cadence, and the rise and fall of the pitch of the voice while speaking.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: GCIDE editors