Understanding the Multifaceted Definitions of Atonic in Linguistics, Biology, Medicine, and Chemistry

atonic

pertaining to a lack of normal tone or tension

The term “atonic” is used in different contexts in various fields of science. Here are a few definitions:

1. In linguistics, “atonic” refers to an unstressed syllable or vowel in a word. For example, the word “about” has the stress on the second syllable, so the first syllable is atonic.

2. In biology and medicine, “atonic” refers to a lack of muscle tone or contraction. For example, atonic seizures are a type of epileptic seizure where the person loses muscle tone and may collapse.

3. In chemistry, “atonic” can refer to an atom that has lost or gained electrons and is not electrically charged. For example, a chlorine atom that has gained an electron becomes a negatively charged chloride ion (Cl-), while a helium atom that has lost two electrons becomes a positively charged helium ion (He2+).

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