Main Entry: mod·i·fy

Pronunciation: \ˈmä-də-ˌfī\

Function: verb

Inflected Form(s): mod·i·fied; mod·i·fy·ing

Etymology: Middle English modifien, from Anglo-French modifier, from Latin modificare to measure, moderate, from modus

Date: 14th century

transitive verb 1 : to make less extreme : moderate
2 a : to limit or restrict the meaning of especially in a grammatical construction b : to change (a vowel) by umlaut
3 a : to make minor changes in b : to make basic or fundamental changes in often to give a new orientation to or to serve a new end <the wing of a bird is an arm modified for flying>intransitive verb : to undergo change

synonyms see change

— mod·i·fi·abil·i·ty \ˌmä-də-ˌfī-ə-ˈbi-lə-tē\ noun

— mod·i·fi·able \ˈmä-də-ˌfī-ə-bəl\ adjective