Definition

1. Verb:
   • To recite or speak with a musical or chanting tone: To utter words in a singing or chanting manner, often with a specific melodic pattern.
   • To pronounce with a particular or controlled pitch and tone: To speak carefully, using variations in pitch to convey meaning or emotion.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • The priest began to intonate the ancient hymn.
  • A skilled actor can intonate a single line to express a wide range of feelings.
  • Please intonate these words clearly so the audience can understand the nuance.

Advanced Usage

• In Linguistics: The term can be used to describe the systematic use of pitch in speech, such as in tonal languages or for marking questions versus statements.
  • Linguists study how speakers intonate to distinguish between a command and a request.
• In Music: Refers to the act of producing precise musical pitches, especially in singing or playing a fretless instrument.
  • The cellist must carefully intonate each note to play in tune with the orchestra.

Variants and Related Words

• Intonation (n): The rise and fall of the voice in speaking; the act of intonating.
  • The rising intonation at the end of the sentence indicated a question.
• Intonational (adj): Relating to intonation.
  • The study focused on intonational patterns across different dialects.

Synonyms

• Chant: To sing or say in a repetitive, musical tone.
• Intone: To utter in a singing voice or with a particular tone.
• Modulate: To vary the tone or pitch of the voice.

Related Phrases

• To intonate a phrase: To deliver a specific group of words with deliberate pitch variation.
  • The poet taught us how to intonate the final phrase for maximum impact.
• Poorly intonated: Describes speech or music that is off-pitch or lacks correct tonal variation.
  • The violin solo was poorly intonated and distracted from the performance.

Verb

1. recite with musical intonation; recite as a chant or a psalm
   • The rabbi chanted a prayer
2. speak carefully, as with rising and falling pitch or in a particular tone
   • please intonate with sadness