intonate

[ in-toh-neyt, -tuh- ]
See synonyms for intonate on Thesaurus.com
verb (used with object),in·to·nat·ed, in·to·nat·ing.
  1. to utter with a particular tone or modulation of voice.

  2. to intone; chant.

Origin of intonate

1
1785–95; <Medieval Latin intonātus, past participle of intonāre to intone. See -ate1

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use intonate in a sentence

  • Those who didn't faint contributed variously intonated screams to the general unrest.

  • His shades of meaning are accurately intonated and perfectly comprehendible to the well versed hunter.

    Hunting Dogs | Oliver Hartley

British Dictionary definitions for intonate

intonate

/ (ˈɪntəʊˌneɪt) /


verb(tr)
  1. to pronounce or articulate (continuous connected speech) with a characteristic rise and fall of the voice

  2. a less common word for intone

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012