tonic
Noun · AdjectiveOpen English WordNet
Noun (4)tonics
- lime- or lemon-flavored carbonated water containing quinineSynonyms: tonic waterquinine waterType of soft drinkSubstance of gin and tonicMade of quinine
- a sweet drink containing carbonated water and flavoring“in New England they call sodas ‘tonics’”Synonyms: popsodasoda popsoda waterType of soft drinkMade of soda water, carbonated water
- (music) the first note of a diatonic scaleSynonyms: keynoteType of note, musical noteKinds C
- a medicine that strengthens and invigoratesSynonyms: restorativeType of medicine, medicationKinds bracer, pick-me-up
Adjective (5)
- of or relating to or producing normal tone or tonus in muscles or tissue“a tonic reflex”“tonic muscle contraction”Relating to tone
- employing variations in pitch to distinguish meanings of otherwise similar words“Chinese is a tonal language”Synonyms: tonalRelating to tone
- (used of syllables) bearing the principle stress, usually accompanied by a change in pitch“a tonic syllable carries the main stress in a word”Synonyms: accented
- relating to or being the keynote of a major or minor scale“tonic harmony”Opposite atonalSimilar tonal
- imparting vitality and energy“the bracing mountain air”Synonyms: bracingbriskfreshrefreshingrefreshfulOpposite debilitatingSimilar invigorating
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: Cf. F. tonigue, Gr. …. See Tone.
1. Of or relating to tones or sounds; specifically Phon., applied to, or distingshing, a speech sound made with tone unmixed and undimmed by obstruction, such sounds, namely, the vowels and diphthongs, being so called by Dr. James Rush (1833) “ from their forming the purest and most plastic material of intonation.”
2. Of or pertaining to tension; increasing tension; hence, increasing strength; as, tonic power.
3. Medicine Increasing strength, or the tone of the animal system; obviating the effects of debility, and restoring healthy functions.
4. Medicine Characterized by continuous muscular contraction; as, tonic convulsions.
Tonic spasm. Medicine See the Note under Spasm.
Origin: Cf. F. tonique, NL. tonicum.
1. Phon. A tonic element or letter; a vowel or a diphthong.
2. Music The key tone, or first tone of any scale.
3. Medicine A medicine that increases the strength, and gives vigor of action to the system.
Tonic sol-fa Music, the name of the most popular among letter systems of notation (at least in England), based on key relationship, and hence called “tonic.” Instead of the five lines, clefs, signature, etc., of the usual notation, it employs letters and the syllables do, re, mi, etc., variously modified, with other simple signs of duration, of upper or lower octave, etc. See Sol-fa.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54 · with additions: 1913 supplement