English Meaning & Definitions
The rise and fall of the voice in speaking, which can change the meaning of words or convey emotion.
- “Her rising intonation at the end of the sentence made the statement sound like a question.”
- “He spoke with a flat, monotonous intonation that made it difficult to tell if he was excited.”
The act of producing musical tones, especially the accuracy of pitch in singing or playing an instrument.
- “The choir's intonation was perfect during the complex choral arrangement.”
- “The violinist struggled with her intonation in the higher registers of the concerto.”
English Synonyms & Near Equivalents
Comprehensive Thesaurus Breakdown
Compare formal, informal, literary synonyms and register nuances for “intonation”.
Derived from the Medieval Latin 'intonatio', from the verb 'intonare' (to sound or thunder), formed by the prefix 'in-' (into) and 'tonus' (tone/pitch). Originally used in ecclesiastical music to describe the opening notes of a chant, it evolved to refer to the rise and fall of the voice in speech.
Think of 'in-tone-action': the way you put 'tone' into your 'action' of speaking.
Frequently Asked Questions About “intonation”
1. What is the meaning of “intonation” in English?
In English, intonation (noun) is defined as: “The rise and fall of the voice in speaking, which can change the meaning of words or convey emotion.”.
2. How do you use “intonation” in a sentence?
“Her rising intonation at the end of the sentence made the statement sound like a question.”
3. What are English synonyms of “intonation”?
4. What is the etymology and word origin of “intonation”?
Derived from the Medieval Latin 'intonatio', from the verb 'intonare' (to sound or thunder), formed by the prefix 'in-' (into) and 'tonus' (tone/pitch). Originally used in ecclesiastical music to describe the opening notes of a chant, it evolved to refer to the rise and fall of the voice in speech.
🇬🇧More English Words to English
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A specific duration of time equal to one hour and forty-six minutes and twelve seconds.
The cardinal number equal to one thousand million (1,000,000,000), expressed in scientific notation as 10^9.
A specific duration of time equivalent to one hour and forty-six minutes.