modify Hear it!

modify Definition

modi·fy (mäd′ə fī′)

transitive verb -·fied′, -·fy′·ing

  1. to change or alter; esp., to change slightly or partially in character, form, etc.
  2. to limit or reduce slightly; moderate to modify a penalty
  3. Gram. to limit the meaning of; qualify “old” modifies “man” in “old man”
  4. Linguis. to change the form of a morpheme to indicate grammatical relations or derivation

Etymology: ME modifien < MFr < L modificare, to limit, regulate < modus, measure (see mode) + facere, to make: see do

intransitive verb

to be modified

modify Related Forms
mod′i·fi′·able adjective
modify Synonyms

modify

v.

  1. To change

    alter, revise, adjust, change, remodel, refashion, transform, mutate; see also change 1, 4, revise.

  2. To moderate

    mitigate, qualify, restrain, curb; see decrease 2, restrict 2. See syn. study at change.

modify Usage Examples

Object

  • organism: Examples are trials with genetically modified organism, radioactive substances or involving medical devices.
  • crop: It is the only genetically modified crop approved for use in India.
  • maize: Transgenic maize modified for avidin production is resistant to storage insect pests [ 14, 15 ] .
  • soya: Information regarding these labeling requirements can be found in the Guidance notes on the labeling of food containing genetically modified soya or maize.
  • food: Thus, our Law on genetically modified food will conform to European standards.
  • ingredient: Mr Pickthall: No doubt the Minister is well briefed on public anxieties about genetically modified ingredients in food.

Subject

  • insertion: A quotation may be modified by the insertion of words for the purposes of clarification, or to give additional information.
  • volume: Item last updated 26 August 2004. ] Volume 9, page 256 ( as modified by volume 14 ): .. .

Modifying Another Word

  • genetically: The first genetically modified plant was born in the United States in 1983.

Infinitive complement

  • suit: The training can be modified to suit any age of individual.
  • accommodate: The Stored Angular Momentum ( SAM ) earthquake actuator was modified to accommodate a self-contained swinging platform.
  • resist: Crops will be modified to resist Late Blight fungus.
  • reflect: The resulting boundary was then modified to reflect notable geographic features such as the Beauly Firth, Cromarty Firth and Firth of Clyde.
  • meet: Training programs can be modified to meet the company's employment needs.
  • fit: Sometimes a borrowed word is modified to fit in with its new surroundings.

Present participle complement

  • accord: The dimensions of the machine can be modified according to the needs of each plant.
  • exist: Although rich in functionality, you can add more application functions, modify existing functions and extend the data model very easily.
  • depend: It is modified depending on whether the mortal prefers doing things to or having things done to them by the pleasure source.

Preposition: by

  • insertion: A quotation may be modified by the insertion of words for the purposes of clarification, or to give additional information.
  • volume: Item last updated 26 August 2004. ] Volume 9, page 256 ( as modified by volume 14 ): .. .