Get Affordable VMs - excellent virtual server hosting


browse words by letter
a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z

tonicmore about tonic

tonic

 

  4  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Tonic  \Ton"ic\,  a.  (Med.) 
  Characterized  by  continuous  muscular  contraction;  as  tonic 
  convulsions. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Tonic  \Ton"ic\,  n.  [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}. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Tonic  \Ton"ic\,  a.  [Cf.  F.  tonigue,  Gr  ?.  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}. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  tonic 
  adj  1:  (physiology)  of  or  relating  to  or  producing  normal  tone  or 
  tonus  in  muscles  or  tissue;  "a  tonic  reflex";  "tonic 
  muscle  contraction" 
  2:  employing  variations  in  pitch  to  distinguish  meanings  of 
  otherwise  similar  words  "Chinese  is  a  tonal  language" 
  [syn:  {tonal}] 
  3:  used  of  syllables;  "a  tonic  syllables  carries  the  main 
  stress  in  a  word"  [syn:  {accented}]  [ant:  {atonic}] 
  4:  relating  to  or  being  the  keynote  of  a  major  or  minor  scale; 
  "tonic  harmony" 
  5:  imparting  vitality  and  energy;  "the  bracing  mountain  air" 
  [syn:  {bracing},  {brisk},  {energizing},  {fresh},  {refreshing}, 
  {refreshful}] 
  n  1:  lime-  or  lemon-flavored  carbonated  water  containing  quinine 
  [syn:  {tonic  water},  {quinine  water}] 
  2:  a  sweet  drink  containing  carbonated  water  and  flavoring;  "in 
  New  England  they  call  sodas  tonics"  [syn:  {pop},  {soda},  {soda 
  pop},  {soda  water}] 
  3:  (music)  the  first  note  of  a  diatonic  scale  [syn:  {keynote}] 
  4:  a  medicine  that  strengthens  and  invigorates  [syn:  {restorative}]




more about tonic