Lexic.us

Definition of Tonic

1. Noun. Lime- or lemon-flavored carbonated water containing quinine.

2. Adjective. Of or relating to or producing normal tone or tonus in muscles or tissue. "Tonic muscle contraction"

3. Noun. A sweet drink containing carbonated water and flavoring. "In New England they call sodas tonics"

4. Adjective. Employing variations in pitch to distinguish meanings of otherwise similar words. "Chinese is a tonal language"

5. Noun. (music) the first note of a diatonic scale.

6. Adjective. Used of syllables. "A tonic syllables carries the main stress in a word"

7. Noun. A medicine that strengthens and invigorates.

8. Adjective. Relating to or being the keynote of a major or minor scale. "Tonic harmony"

9. Adjective. Imparting vitality and energy. "The bracing mountain air"

Definition of Tonic

1. 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."

2. n. A tonic element or letter; a vowel or a diphthong.

3. a. Characterized by continuous muscular contraction; as, tonic convulsions.

Definition of Tonic

1. something that invigorates or refreshes [n -S]

Medical Definition of Tonic

1. 1. Producing and restoring the normal tone. 2. Characterised by continuous tension. 3. A term formerly used for a class of medicinal preparations believed to have the power of restoring normal tone to tissue. Origin: Gr. Tonikos This entry appears with permission from the Dictionary of Cell and Molecular Biology (11 Mar 2008)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Tonic

tongue depressor tongue fern tongue flap tongue habits tongue of cerebellum tongue phenomenon tongue thrust tongue tie tongue twister tongue worm

tonguing tonguings tonguing and grooving plane tong ho tonic (current term) tonic (current term) tonic-clonic seizure tonically tonicicty tonicities

tonicity tonicity tonicoclonic tonics tonic accent tonic contraction tonic control tonic convulsion tonic epilepsy tonic epilepsy

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