tuning fork

noun

Definition of tuning fork

: a 2-pronged metal implement that gives a fixed tone when struck and is useful for tuning musical instruments and ascertaining standard pitch

Examples of tuning fork in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web That 51-story office building, which opened in 2017, flaunts diagonally sloping lower walls that narrow to the building’s elevator core, creating an effect that has been compared to a tuning fork or a guillotine. — Blair Kamin, chicagotribune.com, "Column: City’s tallest office building in 30 years opens along Chicago River, mixing drama and banality," 9 Oct. 2020 But even for such activists, Maausk resonates like a struck tuning fork: a reminder of a different notion of value. — Saul Elbein, National Geographic, "Estonia’s ‘holy forests’ threatened by demand for biofuels," 24 Aug. 2020 Each strap is two-pronged, like a tuning fork, so that the non-bra can be worn in at least twelve ways by twisting it this way and that. — Patricia Marx, The New Yorker, "Bramancing the Braless: Notes on Nine Lingerie Startups," 30 July 2020 Even in the best of times, markets are tuning forks not just for the sound of economic activity but for public sentiment about the future. — Zachary Karabell, Wired, "As Covid-19 Spreads, Listen to the Stock Market—for Now," 12 Mar. 2020 Some of the other items, meanwhile, will be passed on to friends who are much more excited by the prospect of, say, a (slightly banged-up) tuning fork and crystal set. — Rachel Metz, CNN, "I spent $200 on Marie Kondo's new online store to spark joy. Here's what I learned," 27 Nov. 2019 Among Kondo's favorites are a $75 tuning fork, incense for $16, and a donabe (a ceramic Japanese pot) for $180. — Monique Valeris, ELLE Decor, "Spark Joy with Marie Kondo's New Collection of Elegant Lifestyle Products," 18 Nov. 2019 Types of hearing loss can range from a slight loss to a total loss, and tests to diagnose the condition may include a physical exam, tuning fork tests, or other tests by audiologists. — Jan Burns, Houston Chronicle, "Hearing loss is serious, should be addressed quickly," 16 Aug. 2019 The males' antennae act as tuning forks, resonating to the whine produced by the wings of females. — Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, "Only female mosquitoes bother us (and other facts about the insects Alaskans love to hate)," 7 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'tuning fork.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.