tonics

7 definitions • 8 examples

a liquid medicine that has the general effect of making you feel better rather than treating a particular health problem that you might have

something that makes you feel stronger or happier:

The magazine is lively and interesting - the pictures alone are a tonic.

carbonated (= with bubbles) water with a bitter taste that can be drunk on its own or added to alcoholic drinks:

Two gin and tonics, please.

the first note in a diatonic scale (= a musical scale that is either major or minor), which describes the key of a piece of music:

In the key of C, C is the tonic - the tonic is the first note of any scale.

Students learn what is most effective and what subsequent progressions to return to the tonic are good.

Finality is felt in a return to the tonic, which is D.

of or relating to the first note in a diatonic scale (= a musical scale that is either major or minor), which describes the key of a piece of music:

The dominant chord is here followed immediately by a tonic six-four chord.

The sudden tonic triad which concludes the orchestral coda is extremely effective.

a liquid medicine intended to make you feel better generally rather than treating a particular health problem

A tonic is also anything that makes you feel better:

Seeing his grandchildren was the perfect tonic for him.