Entry 3 senses · 2 variants Webster, 1913 Intonation /ĭnˌ-tən-āsh'-ən/ · In·to·na·tion · IPA /ɪntəˈneɪʃən/ n. n. 01 n. A thundering; thunder. 1. A thundering; thunder.[Obs.] 02 n. The act of sounding the tones of the musical scale. 1. The act of sounding the tones of the musical scale.(Mus.) 2. The manner of speaking, especially the placement of emphasis, the cadence, and the rise and fall of the pitch of the voice while speaking.