intonation Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun rise and fall of the voice pitch
    modulation; pitch contour.
  2. noun singing by a soloist of the opening piece of plainsong
  3. noun the act of singing in a monotonous tone
    chanting.
  4. noun the production of musical tones (by voice or instrument); especially the exactitude of the pitch relations

WordNet

In`to*na"tion noun
Etymology
See 1st Intonate.
Definitions
  1. A thundering; thunder. Obs. Bailey.
In`to*na"tion noun
Etymology
Cf. F. intonation. See Intone.
Definitions
  1. (Mus.) (a) The act of sounding the tones of the musical scale. (b) Singing or playing in good tune or otherwise; as, her intonation was false. (c) Reciting in a musical prolonged tone; intonating, or singing of the opening phrase of a plain-chant, psalm, or canticle by a single voice, as of a priest. See Intone, v. t. 2. the manner of speaking, esp. the rise and fall of the pitch of the voice while speaking.

Webster 1913