modulation

modulation Definition

modu·la·tion (mäj′ə lā′s̸hən)

noun

a modulating or being modulated; specif.,
1. Music a shifting from one key to another
2. Radio a variation in the amplitude, frequency, or phase of a wave in accordance with some signal
a variation in stress or pitch in speaking, as in distinguishing between the merely auxiliary and the lexical uses of a word (Ex.: “There is a post office on Main Street,” as contrasted with “There is the post office”)

Etymology: ME modulacioun < L modulatio

modulation Synonyms

timbre, intonation, inflection; see pitch 3, sound 2.

modulation Usage Examples

Converse of object

transmit: Here we present the implementation of active transmit power modulation with axial slice position.
suggest: We suggest that national modulation be operated under a similar franchise to European modulation, returning the first 5000 Euros to the producer.

Adjective modifier

attentional: The final experiments measure attentional modulation of single neuron activity in the visual cortex of the monkey.
adaptive: The basic idea of these techniques, known as adaptive modulation, involves continuously modifying certain parameters of the transmitted signal.
periodic: Periodic modulation in the magnetic field can be treated in the same way.
differential: My Proposal to Improve DAB Synchronous Modulation First as I've just described, DAB uses differential modulation.
immune: Immune modulation at this stage of development may, in the future, be a way forward in the prevention of allergy.
compulsory: The existing EU compulsory modulation is 3 % this year rising to 5 % in 2007.

Modifies a noun

spectroscopy: The use of wavelength modulation spectroscopy to improve sensitivity of gas detection is discussed.
transformer: For the ten variant, the modulation transformer also moves to an external steel cabinet.
frequency: The modulation frequencies comprise an equally tempered scale of 21 notes per octave.
wheel: NB the modulation wheel is midi controller 1. The assignment is done moving the sliders of the plugin with the mouse.
contrast: Also included are virtual microscopes and an image gallery of photomicrographs made using modulation contrast either alone or in combination with other illumination mechanisms.
matrix: The LFO is used through the modulation matrix and can be routed to 32 destinations.

Noun used with modifier

amplitude: Some radios may have a setting marked AM ( amplitude modulation ).
pulse-width: The correct intensity for the pixel is controlled by tilting each mirror on and off ( pulse-width modulation ).
phase-amplitude: Thus QAM ( phase-amplitude modulation ) still remains the most widely used method on ordinary telephone lines.
pulse: The pulse width modulation on these waveforms has also been extended.
magnitude: Two main problems are addressed: Combined component design of magnitude modulation.
frequency: It's never been this easy to discover the enormous sound potential of frequency modulation.

Browse dictionary entries near modulation