tonic

Everyday

1. Tonic, or tonic water, is a fizzy drink with a slightly bitter taste. tree →
2. A tonic is something that makes you feel better, stronger or happier: «The holiday was a real tonic». tree →
3. In the past, a tonic was a medicine people believed would make them stronger. tree →
4. (music) The tonic is the first and main note of a musical scale or key, the «home» note, like C in C major. tree →
5. Hair tonic is a liquid put on hair. tree →

In the lessons

In music lessons, older pupils learn the tonic as «doh», the note a tune often ends on. In everyday life, adults say a walk, sunshine or good news is «a tonic». In history, Victorians bought tonics that often did not really work. Phrases: «a real tonic», «tonic water», «the tonic note».

Examples

• The sunny weekend was a real tonic after the rainy week. tree →
• Grandad drinks tonic water with ice and lemon. tree →
• Seeing my friends again was just the tonic I needed. tree →
• In C major, the tonic is C. tree →
• The song ends on the tonic, so it sounds finished. tree →
• The old shop sold bottles of health tonic. tree →
• Tonic water glows under ultraviolet light because of the quinine in it. tree →

Note

Different senses: a drink, a cheering thing, a music note. Not to be confused with «tectonic» (earth plates) or «sonic» (sound).