employing variations in pitch to distinguish meanings of otherwise similar words; "Chinese is a tonal language"

having tonality; i.e. tones and chords organized in relation to one tone such as a keynote or tonic

Harmony in which chords serve in a well-defined relationship to a key center

a hierarchy of pitches which functionally support or reference one pitch as the focal point or primary center, called the tonic. Based on acoustic principles and tradition, tonal harmony and theory has evolved into a structured musical language which was most commonly used during the common practice period.

Music with a center, or tonic, which employs tones which relate to that tonic in a predictable and measurable manner.