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tonic

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The definition of tonic is producing good muscle tone, or stimulating.

(adjective)

An example of something tonic is an exercise that strengthens the arms.
An example of something tonic is an exciting activity such as a puzzle.

Tonic is defined as something that stimulates or excites, or a type of carbonated drink.

(noun)

An example of a tonic is a drug.
An example of tonic is a beverage often mixed with gin.

See tonic in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

of, producing, or tending to produce good muscular tone, or tension
mentally or morally invigorating; stimulating
having to do with tones; specif.,
1. Music designating or based on the first tone (keynote) of a diatonic scale: a tonic chord
2. Painting having to do with the tone or tones of a picture
3. Phonet., Now Rare designating or of sounds characterized by resonance in the head cavities; also, accented
Med., Physiol. of or characterized by tone, or tonus

Origin: Gr tonikos < tonos: see tone

noun

anything that invigorates or stimulates; specif.,
1. a drug, medicine, or other agent for restoring or increasing body tone
2. a hair or scalp dressing
1. a carbonated beverage flavored with a little quinine and served in a mixed drink with gin, vodka, etc.; quinine water
2. Chiefly Northeast soda pop
Music the first, or basic, tone of a diatonic scale; keynote
Phonet., Now Rare a tonic sound or syllable

Related Forms:

tonically adverb

See tonic in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

An agent, such as a medication, that restores or increases body tone.
An invigorating, refreshing, or restorative agent or influence.
See tonic water.
Boston See soft drink.
Music The first note of a diatonic scale; the keynote.
Linguistics A tonic accent.

adjective

Producing or stimulating physical, mental, or emotional vigor.
a. Physiology Of, relating to, or producing tone or tonicity in muscles or tissue: a tonic reflex.
b. Medicine Characterized by continuous tension or contraction of muscles: a tonic convulsion or spasm.
Music Of or based on the keynote.
Stressed, as a syllable; accented.

Origin:

Origin: New Latin tonicus, of tension or tone

Origin: , from Greek tonikos, capable of extension

Origin: , from tonos, a stretching, tone; see tone

Related Forms:

tonˈi·cal·ly adverb

Regional Note: Generic terms for carbonated soft drinks vary widely in the United States. Probably the two most common words competing for precedence are soda, used in the northeast United States as well as St. Louis and vicinity, and pop, used from the Midwest westward. In the South any soft drink, regardless of flavor or brand name, is referred to as a Coke, cold drink, or just plain drink. Speakers in Boston and its environs have a term of their own: tonic. Such a variety of regional equivalents is unusual for a product for which advertising is so aggressive and universal; usually advertising has the effect of squeezing out regional variants. On the other hand, there are so many types and flavors of soft drinks that perhaps no single generic word has ever emerged to challenge the regionalisms. See Note at dope.

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