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intonation

 - 2 dictionary results

in⋅to⋅na⋅tion

  [in-toh-ney-shuhn, -tuh-]
Use intonation in a Sentence
–noun
1. the pattern or melody of pitch changes in connected speech, esp. the pitch pattern of a sentence, which distinguishes kinds of sentences or speakers of different language cultures.
2. the act or manner of intonating.
3. the manner of producing musical tones, specifically the relation in pitch of tones to their key or harmony.
4. something that is intoned or chanted.
5. the opening phrase in a Gregorian chant, usually sung by one or two voices.
Origin:
1610–20; < ML intonātiōn- (s. of intonātiō). See intonate, -ion

Related forms:
in⋅to⋅na⋅tion⋅al, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To intonation
in·to·na·tion   (ĭn'tə-nā'shən, -tō-)   
n.  

    1. The act of intoning or chanting.

    2. An intoned utterance.

  2. A manner of producing or uttering tones, especially with regard to accuracy of pitch.

  3. Linguistics The use of changing pitch to convey syntactic information: a questioning intonation.

  4. A use of pitch characteristic of a speaker or dialect: "He could hear authority, the old parish intonation coming back into his voice" (Graham Greene).

  5. Music The opening phrase of a plainsong composition sung as a solo part.

in'to·na'tion·al adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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