Definition of TONIC

tonic

Plural: tonics

Noun

  • Something that invigorates, refreshes, or restores a healthy tone.
  • lime- or lemon-flavored carbonated water containing quinine
  • a sweet drink containing carbonated water and flavoring
    • "in New England they call sodas tonics"
  • (music) the first note of a diatonic scale
  • a medicine that strengthens and invigorates
  • A substance with medicinal properties intended to restore or invigorate.
  • Tonic water.
  • Any of various carbonated, non-alcoholic beverages; soda pop.
  • Someone or something that revitalises or reinvigorates.
  • The first note of a diatonic scale; the keynote.
  • The triad built on the tonic note.
  • A tonic element or letter; a vowel or a diphthong.

Adjective

  • of or relating to or producing normal tone or tonus in muscles or tissue
    • "a tonic reflex"
    • "tonic muscle contraction"
  • employing variations in pitch to distinguish meanings of otherwise similar words
  • used of syllables
    • "a tonic syllables carries the main stress in a word"

Adjective Satellite

  • relating to or being the keynote of a major or minor scale
    • "tonic harmony"
  • imparting vitality and energy

Adj

  • Pertaining to tension, especially of muscles.
  • Restorative, curative or invigorating.
  • In a state of continuous unremitting action.
  • Pertaining to or based upon the first note of a diatonic scale.
  • Pertaining to the accent or stress in a word or in speech.
  • 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.

Verb

  • To restore or invigorate.

Examples

  • Finding ’TONIC’ on a triple word score was the invigorating boost my Scrabble game needed.
  • The arrival of the new members had a tonic effect on the team.
  • We used to brew a tonic from a particular kind of root.

Origin / 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. By surface analysis, ton(e) + -ic.

Synonyms

accented, bracing, brisk, fresh, keynote, pop, quinine water, refreshful, refreshing, restorative, soda, soda pop, soda water, tonal, tonic water

Antonyms

atonic

Scrabble Score: 7

tonic: valid Scrabble (US) TWL Word
tonic: valid Scrabble Word in Merriam-Webster MW Dictionary
tonic: valid Scrabble Word in International Collins CSW Dictionary

Words With Friends Score: 9

tonic: valid Words With Friends Word