Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition

Tonic

Ton′ic

,
Adj.
[Cf. F.
tonigue
, Gr. [GREEK]. 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.
(Med.)
Increasing strength, or the tone of the animal system; obviating the effects of debility, and restoring healthy functions.
Tonic spasm
.
(Med.)
See the Note under
Spasm
.

Ton′ic

,
Noun.
[Cf. F.
tonique
, NL.
tonicum
.]
1.
(Phon.)
A tonic element or letter; a vowel or a diphthong.
2.
(Mus.)
The key tone, or first tone of any scale.
3.
(Med.)
A medicine that increases the strength, and gives vigor of action to the system.
Tonic sol-fa
(Mus.)
,
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
.

Definition 2024

tonic

tonic

English

Alternative forms

Adjective

tonic ‎(comparative more tonic, superlative most tonic)

  1. (physics, pathology) Pertaining to tension, especially of muscles.
    • 2009, Thomas Pynchon, Inherent Vice, Vintage 2010, p. 316:
      Out in front and across the street, Doc noted half a dozen or so young men, not loitering or doing substances but poised and tonic, as if waiting for some standing order to take effect.
  2. Restorative, curative or invigorating.
    The arrival of the new members had a tonic effect on the team.

Translations

Noun

tonic ‎(plural tonics)

  1. A substance with medicinal properties intended to restore or invigorate.
    We used to brew a tonic from a particular kind of root.
  2. Tonic water.
  3. (US, Massachusetts) Any of various carbonated, non-alcoholic beverages; soda pop.
  4. (figuratively) Someone or something that revitalises or reinvigorates.
    • 2011, Cathy Kelly, She's the One
      'You're a tonic, Dee,' she said. 'And a real friend. Thanks.'
    • 2011 February 5, Paul Fletcher, “Newcastle 4 - 4 Arsenal”, in BBC:
      The result is the perfect tonic for Newcastle, coming at the end of a week that saw the departure of Andy Carroll to Liverpool on Monday and an injury to Shola Ameobi during Wednesday's defeat at Fulham.
Translations

Etymology 2

From tone +‎ -ic.

Adjective

tonic ‎(not comparable)

  1. (music) Pertaining to the keynote of a composition.
  2. Pertaining to the accent or stress in a word or in speech.
  3. Of or relating to tones or sounds; specifically (phonetics, dated) being or relating to a speech sound made with tone unmixed and undimmed by obstruction, i.e. a vowel or diphthong.

Noun

tonic ‎(plural tonics)

  1. (music) The first note of a scale.
  2. (music) The triad built on the tonic note.
  3. (phonetics) A tonic element or letter; a vowel or a diphthong.

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams

French

Pronunciation

Noun

tonic m ‎(plural tonics)

  1. drink made up mainly of cinchona

Etymology

From Ancient Greek τονικός ‎(tonikós), from τόνος ‎(tónos). 17th century writers believed health to be derived from firmly stretched muscles, thus tonic; the extension of tonic medicine appeared in the late 18th century.

Pronunciation

  • (UK) IPA(key): /ˈtɒnɪk/
  • Rhymes: -ɒnɪk

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