What does TONAL mean?

Parts of Speech

Tonal is an adjective.

Definitions

1. Pertaining to or having to do with tone or tones.

2. Characterized by tone or a particular tone.

3. Linguistics. Pertaining to or noting a language, as Chinese, in which pitch distinctions are used to distinguish meanings of words that are otherwise pronounced identically.

Pronunciations

US: /ˈtoʊnəl/

UK: /ˈtəʊnəl/

Origin and Usage

Tonal comes from the Latin word "tonus," meaning "tone" or "sound." It has been in use since the early 19th century, and is commonly used to describe music, speech, and other forms of communication that involve tone or pitch variations. In linguistics, tonal languages use pitch distinctions to distinguish meanings of words that are otherwise pronounced identically, such as Mandarin Chinese.

Synonyms

musical, harmonic, melodic, tuneful, dulcet, mellifluous, sonorous, euphonious, resonant, modulated, rhythmic, cadenced, intonated, vocalized

Related Words

toned, tones, tonus

Example Sentences

• She sang in a tonal language that required her to hit specific pitches to convey meaning.
• The composer used tonal variations to create a sense of tension in the music.
• The actresss tonal range allowed her to convey a wide range of emotions in her performance.