tonal

/'tounl/

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Explanation of the Word "Tonal"

Meaning: The word "tonal" is an adjective that relates to tones or sounds. It often describes music, languages, or art that involves different pitches or tones. For example, in music, "tonal" can refer to a piece of music that is based around a specific note, called the "tonic." In languages, "tonal" means that the meaning of a word can change depending on the pitch or tone used when speaking it.

Advanced Usage:

In music theory, "tonal" can refer to specific styles of composition that are based on a central note or scale. For example, "tonal harmony" refers to a system of music that is based on the relationship between different chords and a central tone.

Word Variants:

• Tonality (noun): This refers to the character or quality of a tone or sound, often used in music or art.
• Tonalities (plural noun): Different systems of sound or musical scales.

Different Meanings:

1. In Music: Relating to a system that uses a tonic or key.
2. In Language: Referring to languages where pitch affects meaning (like Mandarin Chinese).
3. In Art: Relating to the quality or character of color or tone in a painting.

Synonyms:

• Harmonic (in music)
• Melodic (in music)
• Pitch-related (in sound)

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

While there aren’t specific idioms or phrasal verbs that include "tonal," you might come across phrases like "tone it down," which means to reduce the intensity or volume of something.

Summary:

"Tonal" is a versatile word that can describe music, languages, and sounds that involve various pitches.

Academic

Adjective

1. having tonality; i.e. tones and chords organized in relation to one tone such as a keynote or tonic
2. employing variations in pitch to distinguish meanings of otherwise similar words
   • Chinese is a tonal language

Synonyms

• tonic