tune
(tōōn, tyōōn)
[Middle English, variant of tone, tone; see tone.]
noun
- Music
- A melody, especially a simple and easily remembered one.
- A song.
- Correct pitch.
- The state of being properly adjusted for pitch: a piano out of tune.
- Agreement in pitch: play in tune with the piano.
- Obsolete A musical tone.
- Concord or agreement; harmony: in tune with the times.
- Archaic Frame of mind; disposition.
- Electronics Adjustment of a receiver or circuit for maximum response to a given signal or frequency.
verb: tuned, tun·ing, tunes.
transitive verb
- Music To put into proper pitch: tuned the violin.
- Archaic To utter musically; sing.
- To adopt or adjust, especially in order to bring into harmony.
- Electronics
- To adjust (a receiver) to a desired frequency.
- To adjust (a circuit) so as to make it resonant with a given input signal.
- To adjust (an engine, for example) for maximum usability or performance.
intransitive verb
- To become attuned.
phrasal verbs
- tune in
- Electronics To adjust a receiver to receive signals at a particular frequency or a particular program.
- Slang To make or become aware or responsive: “Nobody tunes in to what anybody else is saying” (Bruce Allen)
- tune out
- Electronics To adjust a receiver so as not to receive a particular signal.
- Slang To disassociate oneself from one's environment: “The average reader, used to seeing the world in three-dimensional color, tunes out” (Carlin Romano) To become unresponsive to; ignore: tuned out the children's screaming.
- tune up
- Music To adjust an instrument to a desired pitch or key.
- To adjust a machine so as to put it into proper condition.
- To prepare (oneself) for a specified activity.
idioms
- to the tune of
- To the sum or extent of: produced profits to the tune of $10 million.
