ATONIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does atonic mean? 

• ATONIC (adjective)
  The adjective ATONIC has 2 senses:

1. characterized by a lack of tonus

2. (used of syllables) carrying no stress

  Familiarity information: ATONIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ATONIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Characterized by a lack of tonus

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

atonicity (lack of normal muscular tension or tonus)

Derivation:

atonia; atonicity; atony (lack of normal muscular tension or tonus)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(used of syllables) carrying no stress

Synonyms:

atonic; unaccented

Context example:

an atonic syllable carries no stress

Antonym:

tonic ((used of syllables) bearing the principle stress, usually accompanied by a change in pitch)

 Context examples 

The epileptic episodes may be tonic, atonic, myoclonic, or absence seizures.

(Lennox-Gastaut Syndrome, NCI Thesaurus)

Classification is generally based upon motor manifestations of the seizure (e.g., convulsive, nonconvulsive, akinetic, atonic, etc.) or etiology (e.g., idiopathic, cryptogenic, and symptomatic). (From Mayo Clin Proc, 1996 Apr;71(4):405-14)

(Generalized Epilepsy, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

A synthetic benzodiazepine derivative used for myotonic or atonic seizures, absence seizures, and photosensitive epilepsy, anticonvulsant Clonazepam appears to enhance gamma-aminobutyric acid receptor responses, although its mechanism of action is not clearly understood.

(Clonazepam, NCI Thesaurus)