Standard Lemma guide

tonus

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

noun

Meaning 1

tonicity; tone

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

Topics: biology, natural-sciences

Examples

  • muscular tonus

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A tonal system or mode used in Gregorian chant.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: countable, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

the elastic tension of living muscles, arteries, etc. that facilitate response to stimuli

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the doctor tested my tonicity

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: tonicity, tone

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: tension, tensity, tenseness, tautness

Narrower terms: catatonia, muscular tonus, muscle tone, myotonia, hypertonia, hypertonus, hypertonicity, hypotonia, hypotonus, hypotonicity

History

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin tonus (“strain, tension”). Doublet of tone, tune, and ton (fashion/style).