modulate

Modulate is to change from one pitch or tone of a voice or instrument.

(verb)

When you raise the inflection of your voice at the end of a question, this is an example of when you modulate your voice.

See modulate in Webster's New World College Dictionary

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

Origin: < 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:

See modulate in American Heritage Dictionary 4

verb mod·u·lat·ed, mod·u·lat·ing, mod·u·lates

verb, transitive

To adjust or adapt to a certain proportion; regulate or temper.
To change or vary the pitch, intensity, or tone of (one's voice or a musical instrument, for example).
Electronics
a. To vary the frequency, amplitude, phase, or other characteristic of (electromagnetic waves).
b. To vary (electron velocity) in an electron beam.

verb, intransitive
Music

To move from one key or tonality to another by means of a melody or chord progression.

Origin:

Origin: Latin modulārī, modulāt-, to measure off, to regulate

Origin: , from modulus

Origin: , diminutive of modus, measure; see med- in Indo-European roots

Related Forms: