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intonation

[in-toh-ney-shuhn, -tuh-]

noun

the pattern or melody of pitch changes in connected speech, especially the pitch pattern of a sentence, which distinguishes kinds of sentences or speakers of different language cultures.

the act or manner of intonating.

the manner of producing musical tones, specifically the relation in pitch of tones to their key or harmony.

something that is intoned or chanted.

the opening phrase in a Gregorian chant, usually sung by one or two voices.

Origin:
1610–20; < Medieval Latin intonātiōn- (stem 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. 2012.
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Intonation is always a great word to know.

So is zedonk. Does it mean:

the offspring of a zebra and a donkey.

a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.

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Example Sentences

The speaker's voice was agreeably deep, with a mystifying rough intonation at the edge.

No tripping over pronounciations, no wrong intonation.

And written words will never contain the vast subtleties of rhythm and intonation which are essential to any language.

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The speaker's voice was agreeably deep, with a mystifying rough intonation at the edge.

No tripping over pronounciations, no wrong intonation.

And written words will never contain the vast subtleties of rhythm and intonation which are essential to any language.

He found, for example, that the listener's head and body movements tracked the intonation patters of the speaker's language.

Elsewhere, one could not help noting some roughness of technique and some faults of intonation.

He's none too impressed by some of the in-flight intonation he heard, either.

Her intonation is reliable and her musicality imbued with youthful freshness.

It could spot commonly used words as features of a particular conversation, or keep track of relevant changes in intonation.

So does her sense of pitch, heavily colored by blues intonation.

His phrasing and sense of harmony were rooted in be-bop, while his unconventional, highly personal intonation presaged free jazz.

Melodic intonation therapy can help some stroke patients regain their ability to communicate.

Quick lines were slurred and intonation problems were abundant.

Elsewhere, his sound was slightly anemic and his intonation was not always reliable.

McWilliams's tone became thin and his intonation unfocused, an uncomfortable combination.

Despite some minor intonation problems, she had firm instrumental control and a rich sound.

But intonation was scrupulously precise even above the staff.

Her intonation was dependable, but sometimes compromised in its effect by a lack of fineness in her bowing.

Ideally, it embodied silken register shifts, true intonation and easily negotiated ornaments.

It was a tentative performance marred by memory slips and intonation problems.

Perlman's tone was sometimes lackluster, and he had intonation problems throughout the evening.

Josefowicz adopts a relaxed approach, offering simple charm to complement her flawless intonation.

Use of dipping or questioning intonation at the end of a statement, which renders it less forceful.

Balances and intonation in the orchestra were also sometimes skewed.

COLLAPSE

Collins

World English Dictionary

intonation (ˌɪntəʊˈneɪʃən)

—n
1.	the sound pattern of phrases and sentences produced by pitch variation in the voice
2.	the act or manner of intoning
3.	an intoned, chanted, or monotonous utterance; incantation
4.	music the opening of a piece of plainsong, sung by a soloist
5.	music
	a. the correct or accurate pitching of intervals
	b. See also just intonation the capacity to play or sing in tune

into'national

—*adj*

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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