Tonic

['tɒnɪk] or ['tɑnɪk]

Definition

(noun.) a medicine that strengthens and invigorates.

(noun.) (music) the first note of a diatonic scale.

(noun.) lime- or lemon-flavored carbonated water containing quinine.

(adj.) used of syllables; 'a tonic syllables carries the main stress in a word' .

(adj.) relating to or being the keynote of a major or minor scale; 'tonic harmony' .

(adj.) employing variations in pitch to distinguish meanings of otherwise similar words; 'Chinese is a tonal language' .

(adj.) of or relating to or producing normal tone or tonus in muscles or tissue; 'a tonic reflex'; 'tonic muscle contraction' .

Edited by Lenore--From WordNet

Definition

(a.) 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."

(a.) Of or pertaining to tension; increasing tension; hence, increasing strength; as, tonic power.

(a.) Increasing strength, or the tone of the animal system; obviating the effects of debility, and restoring healthy functions.

(n.) A tonic element or letter; a vowel or a diphthong.

(n.) The key tone, or first tone of any scale.

(n.) A medicine that increases the strength, and gives vigor of action to the system.

Editor: Pedro

Synonyms and Synonymous

n. [1]. Strengthening medicine.[2]. (Music.) Key, key-note, first note of the scale, fundamental note.

Checker: Presley

Definition

adj. relating to tones or sounds: (med.) giving tone and vigour to the system: giving or increasing strength.—n. a medicine which gives tone and vigour to the system.—n. Tonic′ity the healthy state of muscular fibres when at rest.—Tonic spasm (see Spasm).

Checked by Bryant