- tonic
- tonic [tän′ik]adj.[Gr tonikos < tonos: see TONE]1. of, producing, or tending to produce good muscular tone, or tension2. mentally or morally invigorating; stimulating3. having to do with tones; specif.,a) Music designating or based on the first tone ( keynote) of a diatonic scale [a tonic chord]b) Painting having to do with the tone or tones of a picturec) Phonet. Now Rare designating or of sounds characterized by resonance in the head cavities; also, accented4. Med. Physiol. of or characterized by tone, or tonusn.1. anything that invigorates or stimulates; specif.,a) a drug, medicine, or other agent for restoring or increasing body toneb) a hair or scalp dressing2.a) a carbonated beverage flavored with a little quinine and served in a mixed drink with gin, vodka, etc.; quinine waterb) Chiefly Northeast SODA POP3. Music the first, or basic, tone of a diatonic scale; keynote4. Phonet. Now Rare a tonic sound or syllabletonicallyadv.
English World dictionary. V. Neufeldt. 2014.