tonic Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun lime- or lemon-flavored carbonated water containing quinine
    tonic water; quinine water.
  2. noun a sweet drink containing carbonated water and flavoring
    soda pop; soda water; pop; soda.
    • in New England they call sodas tonics
  3. noun (music) the first note of a diatonic scale
    keynote.
  4. noun a medicine that strengthens and invigorates
    restorative.
  5. adjective of or relating to or producing normal tone or tonus in muscles or tissue
    • a tonic reflex
    • tonic muscle contraction
  6. adjective employing variations in pitch to distinguish meanings of otherwise similar words
    tonal.
    • Chinese is a tonal language
  7. adjective used of syllables
    accented.
    • a tonic syllables carries the main stress in a word
  8. adjective satellite relating to or being the keynote of a major or minor scale
    • tonic harmony
  9. adjective satellite imparting vitality and energy
    refreshful; refreshing; brisk; bracing; fresh.
    • the bracing mountain air

WordNet

Ton"ic adjective
Etymology
Cf. F. tonigue, Gr. . See Tone.
Definitions
  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 heatly functions.
Ton"ic noun
Etymology
Cf. F. tonigue, NL. tonicum.
Definitions
  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 srength, and gives vigor of action to the system.

Webster 1913