tonic

[ton-ik] /ˈtɒn ɪk/
noun
1.
a medicine that invigorates or strengthens:
a tonic of sulphur and molasses.
2.
anything invigorating physically, mentally, or morally:
His cheerful greeting was a real tonic.
3.
quinine water.
4.
Music. the first degree of the scale; the keynote.
5.
Chiefly Eastern New England. soda pop.
6.
Phonetics. a tonic syllable or accent.
adjective
7.
pertaining to, maintaining, increasing, or restoring the tone or health of the body or an organ, as a medicine.
8.
invigorating physically, mentally, or morally.
9.
Physiology, Pathology.
  1. pertaining to tension, as of the muscles.
  2. marked by continued muscular tension:
    a tonic spasm.
10.
using differences in tone or pitch to distinguish between words that are otherwise phonemically identical:
a tonic language.
11.
pertaining to tone or accent in speech.
12.
Phonetics. (of a syllable) bearing the principal stress or accent, usually accompanied by a change in pitch.
13.
Music.
  1. of or pertaining to a tone or tones.
  2. pertaining to or founded on the keynote, or first tone, of a musical scale:
    a tonic chord.
Origin
1640-50; < Greek tonikós pertaining to stretching or tones. See tone, -ic
Related forms
tonically, adverb
antitonic, adjective, noun
nontonic, adjective
pretonic, noun, adjective
Synonyms
2. stimulant, restorative, bracer, pickup.
Regional variation note
5. See soda pop.

-tonic

1.
a combining form occurring in adjectives that correspond to nouns ending in -tonia:
catatonic.
Origin
see tonic
Examples from the web for tonic
  • As befits the pointy-headed elevation of all simple things, gourmet attention is now being paid to the humble gin and tonic.
  • After the solitude of graduate research, that's a powerful tonic.
  • The best way is a gin and tonic in the lounge and a couple on the flight.
  • Hair tonic poisoning occurs when someone swallows this substance.
  • The view from the verandah is almost as tonic as what's blending with the ice in my gin.
  • They would lie on their verandas in a pool of sweat, fanning themselves and sipping on gin and tonic.
  • The tonic neck position is often described as the fencer's position because it resembles the stance of a fencer.
  • They have a way of sticking to the roof of your mouth that might be fine in peanut butter, but not in a gin and tonic.
  • The patient had probably developed an allergy from the small amount of quinine contained in tonic water.
  • It is a sedative to the viscera, a tonic, antipyretic.
British Dictionary definitions for tonic

tonic

/ˈtɒnɪk/
noun
1.
a medicinal preparation intended to improve and strengthen the functioning of the body or increase the feeling of wellbeing
2.
anything that enlivens or strengthens: his speech was a tonic to the audience
3.
Also called tonic water. a mineral water, usually carbonated and containing quinine and often mixed with gin or other alcoholic drinks
4.
(music)
  1. the first degree of a major or minor scale and the tonal centre of a piece composed in a particular key
  2. a key or chord based on this
5.
a stressed syllable in a word
adjective
6.
serving to enliven and invigorate: a tonic wine
7.
of or relating to a tone or tones
8.
(music) of or relating to the first degree of a major or minor scale
9.
of or denoting the general effect of colour and light and shade in a picture
10.
(physiol) of, relating to, characterized by, or affecting normal muscular or bodily tone: a tonic spasm
11.
of or relating to stress or the main stress in a word
12.
denoting a tone language
Derived Forms
tonically, adverb
Word Origin
C17: from New Latin tonicus, from Greek tonikos concerning tone, from tonostone
Word Origin and History for tonic
adj.

1640s, "relating to or characterized by muscular tension," from Greek tonikos "of stretching," from tonos "a stretching" (see tenet). The meaning "maintaining the healthy firmness of tissues" is recorded from 1680s, first extended 1756 to "having the property of restoring to health."

n.

"a tonic medicine," 1799, from tonic (adj.).

in the musical sense, 1760, from tone (n.) + -ic. Related: Tonicity.

tonic in Medicine

tonic ton·ic (tŏn'ĭk)
adj.

  1. Of or producing tone or tonicity in muscles or tissue.

  2. Characterized by continuous tension or contraction of muscles, as a convulsion or spasm.

  3. Producing or stimulating physical, mental, or emotional vigor.

n.
An agent, such as a medication, that restores or increases body tone.
Slang definitions & phrases for tonic

tonic

noun

Liquor: tonic will settle you down


Encyclopedia Article for tonic

in music, the first note (degree) of any diatonic (e.g., major or minor) scale. It is the most important degree of the scale, serving as the focus for both melody and harmony. The term tonic may also refer to the tonic triad, the chord built in thirds from the tonic note (as C-E-G in C major). See also tonality.

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