modulate

modulate Definition

modu·late (mäj′ə lāt′)

transitive verb modulated -·lat′ed, modulating -·lat′·ing

to regulate, adjust, or adapt to the proper degree
to vary the pitch, intensity, etc. of (the voice), often specif. to a lower degree
Radio to vary the amplitude, frequency, or phase of (an oscillation, as a carrier wave) in accordance with some signal

Etymology: < L modulatus, pp. of modulari, to regulate, measure off, arrange < modulus, dim. of modus: see mode

intransitive verb

to shift to another key within a musical composition

Related Forms:

modulate Synonyms

modulate Telecom Definition

Change or vary in some way.
In acoustics, modulation involves varying the pitch, tone, or volume of an audio signal, such as the human voice.
In physics, modulation involves varying the characteristics of an electromagnetic waveform, generally by varying the amplitude, frequency, or phase, or some combination.
In telecommunications, modems perform signal modulation and demodulation processes to encode information from digital devices onto signals carried by analog circuits. Digital Service Units (DSUs) and various other devices modulate carrier waves to place digital signals on digital circuits. See also AM, FM, modem, PM, and PSK.
In telecommunications, codecs code analog signals into digital format prior to transmission over a digital circuit, and decode them on the receiving end of the connection. Codecs use a variety of modulation techniques, including adaptive differential pulse code modulation (ADPCM), differential pulse code modulation (DPCM), and pulse code modulation (PCM). See also ADPCM, analog, codec, digital, DPCM, and PCM.

modulate Usage Examples

Modifying Another Word

directly: It remains to be determined whether oxidants directly modulate the proliferative response.

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