noun
tonic
TO-nihk
noun
1
A drink or medicine believed to restore health, energy, or well-being.
"Grandma swore by her herbal tonic for colds."
2
A carbonated soft drink, especially tonic water, often mixed with spirits like gin.
"He ordered a gin and tonic at the bar."
3
The first and home note of a musical scale, around which the melody centres.
"The piece resolves back to the tonic at the very end."
adj
1
Restorative or invigorating.
"A brisk walk had a tonic effect on her mood."
How to Use Tonic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething restorative (a tonic drink or effect), a fizzy mixer (tonic water), or the home note of a musical key.
Common pairings
gin and tonic
tonic water
a tonic for the nerves
Word Forms
more tonic comparative, tonicked past tense, tonics plural, tonics plural, tonics singular, most tonic superlative
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Grandma swore by her herbal _____ for colds.
Etymology
From Ancient Greek tonikos, from tonos ("tension, pitch") — 18th-century doctors linked healthy muscle "tension" to overall vigor, giving us the medical sense.