atonic

English

Etymology

a- +‎ tonic

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /eɪˈtɒnɪk/

  Rhymes: -ɒnɪk

Adjective

atonic (comparative more atonic, superlative most atonic)

1. (of a sound or syllable) unstressed
2. (linguistics) not having tone (pitch)
   • 1984, John DeFrancis, The Chinese Language: Fact and Fantasy (nonfiction), University of Hawaii Press, page 45:

     Some syllables are distinguished by an absence of tone; they are said to be atonic or to have a neutral tone.

3. (pathology) Lacking muscle tone.
4. (medicine) Characterized by atony, or want of vital energy.

   an atonic disease

Derived terms

• atonia
• atonicity
• atony

See also

• atonal

Anagrams

• Catino, actino-, action, cation, cation-π