tonic Definition
- 1a medicinal substance taken to give a feeling of vigor or well-being
- 2a drink that contains quinine and is used to treat or prevent malaria
- 3a musical chord that is the first and last note of a major scale
Using tonic: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "tonic" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
She took a tonic for her headache.
Example
The bartender mixed a gin and tonic for me.
Example
Quinine is a key ingredient in tonic water.
Example
The tonic chord sets the key for the entire piece.
tonic Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for tonic
- stimulant
- restorative
- refresher
- pick-me-up
Antonyms for tonic
Idioms Using tonic
tonic sol-fa
a system of musical notation based on the relationship between the tones of the major scale
Example
She learned to sing using the tonic sol-fa method.
tonic-clonic seizure
a type of seizure that involves both tonic and clonic movements, characterized by sudden loss of consciousness, stiffening of the body, and convulsions
Example
He was diagnosed with tonic-clonic seizures and prescribed medication to control them.
Example
She tried a tonic water bath to relieve her eczema symptoms.
Phrases with tonic
a carbonated soft drink flavored with quinine, typically used as a mixer for alcoholic drinks
Example
I ordered a gin and tonic with lime.
Example
He experienced a tonic seizure during his epilepsy episode.
a natural state of paralysis that animals enter when they are in extreme danger, also known as 'playing dead'
Example
The possum went into tonic immobility when it sensed the predator nearby.
Origins of tonic
from Greek 'tonikos', meaning 'of stretching'
Summary: tonic in Brief
The term 'tonic' [ˈtɒnɪk] refers to a medicinal substance that promotes vigor or well-being, such as 'She took a tonic for her headache.' It also denotes a drink containing quinine, like 'The bartender mixed a gin and tonic for me.' In music, 'tonic' refers to the first and last note of a major scale. Phrases include 'tonic water,' a mixer for alcoholic drinks, and 'tonic immobility,' a natural state of paralysis in animals. Idioms include 'tonic sol-fa,' a system of musical notation, and 'tonic-clonic seizure,' a type of seizure involving sudden loss of consciousness and convulsions.
