tune

¹tune

noun \ˈtün, ˈtyün\

Definition of TUNE

1

a archaic : quality of sound : tone

b : manner of utterance : intonation; specifically : phonetic modulation

2

a : a pleasing succession of musical tones : melody

b : a dominant theme

3

: correct musical pitch or consonance —used chiefly in the phrases in tune and out of tune

4

a archaic : a frame of mind : mood

b : agreement, harmony <in tune with the times>

c : general attitude : approach <changed his tune when the going got rough>

5

: amount, extent <custom-made to the tune of $40 to $50 apiece — American Fabrics>

Examples of TUNE

1. <hummed a little tune while I sorted the laundry>
2. <your negative assessment of the restaurant seems to be in tune with the opinions of the critics>

Origin of TUNE

Middle English, from Anglo-French tun, tuen tone

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to TUNE

Synonyms

air, lay, song, strain, melody, warble

Antonyms

conflict, disagreement, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness

Related Words

descant (also discant); cadence, measure, meter, rhythm; ballad, ditty, hymn, lyric, madrigal

Near Antonyms

contrast, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, diverseness, diversity, unlikeness; deviance, divergence; discord, discordance, dissension (also dissention), dissent, dissidence, disunity, friction, strife; variability, variance; incompatibility

Other Music Terms

cacophony, chorister, concerto, counterpoint, madrigal, obbligato, presto, presto, refrain, riff, segue

Rhymes with TUNE

boon, Boone, coon, croon, dune, goon, June, loon, lune, moon, noon, prune, rune, soon, spoon, swoon, toon

²tune

verb

tunedtun·ing

Definition of TUNE

transitive verb

1

: to adjust in musical pitch or cause to be in tune <tuned her guitar>

2

a : to bring into harmony : attune

b : to adjust for precise functioning —often used with up <tune up an engine>

c : to make more precise, intense, or effective

3

: to adjust with respect to resonance at a particular frequency: as

a : to adjust (a radio or television receiver) to respond to waves of a particular frequency —often used with in

b : to establish radio contact with <tune in a directional beacon>

4

: to adjust the frequency of the output of (a device) to a chosen frequency or range of frequencies; also : to alter the frequency of (radiation)

intransitive verb

1

: to become attuned

2

: to adjust a radio or television receiver to respond to waves of a particular frequency

Examples of TUNE

1. The piano needs to be tuned.
2. We tuned our bikes before the road trip.
3. The mechanic tuned the engine.
4. The copilot tuned the radio to hear the message.

First Known Use of TUNE

15th century