tonic
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tonic¹
- /ˈtɒnɪk/ UK
- /ˈtɑ.nɪk/ Atlantic Canada, US
- /ˈtɒnɪk/ Boston, Canada, Maine
- /ˈtɔnɪk/ Australia
- [ˈtɔ̟nək] New Zealand
Rhymes with -ɒnɪk
Where it comes from
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.
adjective more tonic · most tonic · tonick
- Pertaining to tension, especially of the muscles. Out in front and across the street, Doc noted half a dozen or so young men, not loitering or doing substances but poised and tonic, as if waiting for some standing order to take effect.
- Restorative; curative; or invigorating. The arrival of the new members had a tonic effect on the team.
- In a state of continuous unremitting action. Peter Redgrave (2007) Basal ganglia. Scholarpedia, 2(6):1825. GABAergic neurones in the basal ganglia output nuclei have high tonic firing rates (40-80 Hz).
noun tonics · tonick
- A substance with medicinal properties intended to restore or invigorate. We used to brew a tonic from a particular kind of root.
- Tonic water.
- Any of various carbonated, non-alcoholic beverages; soda pop.
- Someone or something that revitalises or reinvigorates. Charlie ain't no Nazi / She likes to wear her leather boots / 'Cause it's exciting for the veterans / And it's a tonic for the troops.
verb tonics · tonicking · tonicked · tonick
- To restore or invigorate. When all signs of effusion, dulness, pain, œgophony, and cough had disappeared he was dieted, stimulated, and tonicked.
tonic²
- /ˈtɒnɪk/ UK
- /ˈtɑ.nɪk/ Atlantic Canada, US
- /ˈtɒnɪk/ Boston, Canada, Maine
- /ˈtɔnɪk/ Australia
- [ˈtɔ̟nək] New Zealand
Rhymes with -ɒnɪk
Where it comes from
From tone + -ic.
adjective tonick
- 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.
noun tonics · tonick
- 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.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: soda, soda water, soda pop, tonic water, brisk, bracing, invigorating, fresh, tonal, refreshing, refreshful, restorative, keynote, pop, accented, energizing
Translations
Every language
adj pertaining to tension
| Deutsch | tonisch |
|---|
noun substance
| Español | tónico |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 토닉 tonik |
| 日本語 | トニック tonikku |
| 中文 | 補品 /补品 bǔpǐn, 補藥 /补药 bǔyào |
| Português | tónico, tônico |
| Français | tonique, tonic |
| Deutsch | Kräftigungsmittel, Stärkungsmittel, Elixier, Tonikum, Tonic |
| Русский | то́ник tónik |
noun figuratively: something that reinvigorates
| Português | tónico, tônico |
|---|---|
| Deutsch | erfrischend, belebend |
noun first note of a scale
| 日本語 | 主音 shyuon |
|---|---|
| 中文 | 主音 zhǔyīn |
| Português | tónica, tônica |
| Français | tonique |
| Deutsch | Tonika, Grundton |
| Italiano | tonica |
| Русский | то́ника tónika |
noun triad built on the tonic note
| Deutsch | Tonika |
|---|
Talk about this word "tonic." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/tonic. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. tonic. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/tonic "tonic." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/tonic.Cite this
@misc{tonic_2026,
title = {tonic},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/tonic},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
