Dictionary

tonify en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈtɑnɪfaɪ/
• /ˈtoʊnɪfaɪ/
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From tone + -ify.

Meanings

1. (Chinese, traditional) To increase the available energy of
   • Herbs that tonify deficiencies strengthen or supplement the body's resistance against disease. They are usually subdivided into herbs that tonify Qi, Yang, blood, or Yin. 2014, Stevenson Xutian, Shusheng Tai, Chun-Su Yuan, Handbook of Traditional Chinese Medicine, →ISBN, page 676:
   • Accupunturists who wish to enhance energy flow in a particular meridian (i.e., to tonify the kidney meridian) might apply the bionorth side of the magnet to acupuncture point KD7 and the biosouth side of the magnet to KD10. 2009, May Loo, Integrative Medicine for Children, →ISBN, page 97:
   • Intellectuals are principally yang: one must tonify the yin. Rural people are principally yin: one must tonify the yang. 1994, Georges Soulié de Morant, Paul Zmiewski, Chinese Acupuncture, →ISBN, page 79:
   • In two-meridian problems, for example Lung deficiency, where the Spleen would also be deficient, tonify LU-9 or LU-7 and SP-3 or SP-5. 1983, Kiiko Matsumoto, Stephen Birch, Five Elements and Ten Stems, →ISBN, page 172:
2. (broadly) To invigorate; to have a restorative effect on.
   • There were rumors around of a love that enhanced and tonified, that had the strengthening effects of beef tea or a football training breakfast, but she had never seen a living example of it. 2014, Ann Arensberg, Sister Wolf: A Novel, →ISBN:
   • Home demand is in course of being tonified on both the investment and consumption sides. 1969, Italian Economic Survey, page vii:
   • Patients of this description derive a marvellous amount of benefit from hydrotherapy, and, when it can be had, from maritime hydrotherapy : this treatment tonifies their whole system, and enables them to resist variations of temperature, without contracting the intestinal catarrh from which, under similar circumstances, they were previously in the habit of suffering. 1871, The New Sydenham Society, page 113:
   • Then he tonified himself with a cold shower and carefully dressed for dinner. 1927, Silvio Villa, Ultra-violet Tales, page 122:
   • You are asking me about the tonics, it is but natural that I want them. But I want them from your formula, of your make. Let them come in the form of affection, dedication and love; let them come in the shape of your photos. All this tonifies me more than all the rest, which you may desire to send. 2000, José Francisco Martins, Censored courtship, page 114:
3. (of muscles) To strengthen; to tone.
   • Her breasts were tonified. Her waist was narrow and her butt perfect. 2016, Demetrio Verbaro, The Eternal Moment, →ISBN:
   • This pressure creates a resistant force in the abdomen, which tonifies the pelvic floor, the abdominal wall, and the deep stabilizing muscles of the low back. 2012, Gregor Maehle, Ashtanga Yoga The Intermediate Series, →ISBN:
   • This maybe important when these muscles need to be tonified, especially if the thoracic spine has a tendency to bend over slightly, or if the ribs are usually in a position that is too closed. 2006, Anatomy of Breathing, page 145:

Forms

Deriveds

tonifier

Translations (3)

ca tonificar (Translations) · es tonificar (Translations) · fr tonifier (Translations)