tonic Hear it!

tonic definition

tonic (tänik)

adjective

  1. of, producing, or tending to produce good muscular tone, or tension
  2. mentally or morally invigorating; stimulating
  3. having to do with tones; specif.,
    1. Music designating or based on the first tone (keynote) of a diatonic scale a tonic chord
    2. Painting having to do with the tone or tones of a picture
    3. Phonet., Now Rare designating or of sounds characterized by resonance in the head cavities; also, accented
  4. Med., Physiol. of or characterized by tone, or tonus

Etymology: Gr tonikos < tonos: see tone

noun

  1. anything that invigorates or stimulates; specif.,
    1. a drug, medicine, or other agent for restoring or increasing body tone
    2. a hair or scalp dressing
    1. a carbonated beverage flavored with a little quinine and served in a mixed drink with gin, vodka, etc.; quinine water
    2. Chiefly Northeast soda pop
  2. Music the first, or basic, tone of a diatonic scale; keynote
  3. Phonet., Now Rare a tonic sound or syllable

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.