tune Hear it!

tune Definition

tune (to̵̅o̅n, tyo̵̅o̅n)

noun

  1. Obsolete a sound or tone
    1. a succession of musical tones forming a rhythmic, catchy whole; melody; air
    2. a musical setting of a hymn, psalm, poem, etc.
  2. the condition of having correct musical pitch, or of being in key; also, harmony; agreement; concord: now used chiefly in the phrases in tune and out of tune a violin that is in tune, a person out of tune with the times

Etymology: ME, var. of tone, tone

transitive verb tuned, tun·ing

  1. to adjust (a musical instrument) to some standard of pitch; put in tune
  2. to adapt (music, the voice, etc.) to some pitch, tone, or mood
  3. to adapt to some condition, mood, etc.; bring into harmony or agreement
  4. Now Rare to utter or express musically
    1. to adjust (a system, motor, etc.) to the proper or desired condition or performance
    2. to adjust (a radio or TV receiver) to a given frequency or channel

intransitive verb

to be in tune; harmonize

tune Idioms

call the tune

to direct proceedings; be in control

change one's tune

to change one's attitude or manner, as from scorn to respect

sing a different tune

to talk or act differently because of a change of attitude

to the tune of

Informal to the sum, price, or extent of

tune in

  1. to adjust a radio or television receiver to a given frequency or channel so as to receive (a specified station, program, etc.)
  2. Slang to become or make aware, knowing, hip, etc.

tune out

  1. to adjust a radio or TV receiver so as to eliminate (interference, a particular broadcasting station, etc.)
  2. Slang to turn one's attention, sympathies, etc. away from

tune up

  1. to adjust (musical instruments) to the same pitch, as in an orchestra
  2. to bring (an engine, etc.) to the proper condition or performance, as by replacing parts, making adjustments, etc.
tune Synonyms

tune

n.

melody, air, aria, song, harmony, strain, theme, piece, number, ditty, jingle, a few bars; see also melody 2, song.

call the tune*

be in control, direct, manage; see lead 1.

change one's tune*

change one's mind, alter one's actions, be transformed; see change 4,

sing a different tune*

change one's mind, alter one's actions, be transformed; see change 4. See syn. study at melody.

tune Synonyms

tune

v.

adjust the pitch, attune, put in tune, tune up, tighten the strings, use the tuning fork, set the tune; see also harmonize 1.

tune Usage Examples

Object

  • fork: But that's only one prong of the tuning fork.
  • percussion: Tuned percussion, harps and keyboard instruments required are listed separately after the percussion.
  • capacitor: Now rotate the tuning capacitor of the receiver under test through the broadcast band.
  • knob: Just turning the main volume or tuning knob was enough to tell you much about a piece of kit.
  • stay: Stay tuned for more details on the October event.

Converse of object

  • hum: From time to time sheâd hum a tune under her breath, but she didnât know she was doing it.
  • compose: Archie has composed many pipe tunes, a number of them for senior Clan Donald members.
  • sing: Carl will be remembered for many things ( He also sang the theme tune to " New Faces " in the 70's!
  • whistle: Do not sway to the music, tap your feet or whistle a merry tune.

Adjective modifier

  • catchy: Matt Home gets a feature on ' Finder's Keepers ' - a catchy tune from Jonny in 5/4 time.
  • funky: However, we've got him on a strict diet of funky tunes and cool breaks which makes his keys rock.
  • favorite: Ware was in a real Marvin Gaye mood throughout here with, my favorite tune being ' Girl, Girl, Girl.
  • memorable: Throughout the exhibition, Bond film footage plays alongside memorable theme tunes.
  • melodic: The computer-generated music consists of a richly textured melodic base tune playing in the background for the duration of the performance.

Noun used with modifier

  • hymn: Variation 1: Horn and bassoon in imitation retain the dignity of the hymn tune.
  • fiddle: If they do find them useful, do they want more fiddle tunes or would they prefer breaks for songs?
  • theme: His theme tune was Man Of Mystery by The Shadows.
  • signature: The signature tune for the Detective pilot episode was composed by John Addison.
  • pop: A proper, spanking pop tune that contains the immortal line, Hey, what's your name?
  • folk: It is a traditional folk tune that had been covered by Bob Dylan.
tune Quotes

   The angels all were singing out of tune, And hoarse with having little else to do, Excepting to wind up the sun and moon, Or curb a runaway young star or two.

—Rochdale

He was an average guy who could carry a tune.

—Crosby, Bing originally Harry Lillis Crosby

I am not going to spend any time whatsoever attacking the Foreign Secretary.Quite honestly, I am beginning to feel extremely sorry for him. If we complain about the tune, there is no reason to attack the monkey when the organ grinder is present.

—Bevan, Aneurin

All night has the casement jessamine stirred To the dancers dancing in tune; Till a silence fell with the waking bird, And a hush with the setting moon.

—Tennyson

A place as kind as it isgreen, the greenest place I've never seen. Every name is a tune.

—Moore, Marianne Craig

Different rhymes for different times Different styles for different climes Someday them rogues in Whitehall Be forced to change their tune.

—Brodber, Erna

There's many a good tune played on an old fiddle.

—Butler, Samuel

'Hope' is the thing with feathersö That perches in the soulö And sings the tune without the wordsö And never stopsöat allö

—Dickinson, Emily Elizabeth

Sentimentally I am disposed to harmony. But organically I am incapable of a tune.

—Lamb, Charles

   A lamentable tune is the sweetest music to a woeful mind.

—Shute, Nevil originally Nevil Shute Norway

O Oisin, mount by me and ride To shores by the wash of the tremulous tide, Where men have heaped no burial-mounds, And the days pass by like a wayward tune.

—Yeats,W(illiam) B(utler)

O my Luve's like a red, red rose That's newly sprung in June; O my luve's like the melodie That's sweetly play'd in tune. As fair art thou, my bonie lass, So deep in luve am I; And I will luve thee still, my Dear, Till a'the seas gang dry. Till a'the seas gang dry, my Dear, And the rocks melt wi' the sun: O I will love thee still, my Dear, While the sands o' life shall run.

—Burns, Robert

There's Carol like a rolling car, And Martin like a flying bird, And Adam like the Lord's First Word, And Raymond like the Harvest Moon, And Peter like a piper's tune, And Alan like the flowing on Of water. And there's John, like John.

—Farjeon, Eleanor

Swaying to and fro on his rickety stool He played that sad raggy tune like a musical fool. Sweet blues!

—Hughes, (James Mercer) Langston

I must be mad, or very tired, When the curve of a blue bay beyond a railroad track Is shrill and sweet to me like the sudden springing of a tune, And the sight of a white church above thin trees in a city square Amazes my eyes as though it were the Parthenon.

—Lowell, Amy

The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending we lay waste our powers: Little we see in nature that is ours; We have given our hearts away, a sordid boon! The sea that bares her bosom to the moon; The winds that will be howling at all hours, And are up-gathered now like sleeping flowers; For this, for everything, we are out of tune; It moves us not.öGreat God! I'd rather be A pagan suckled in a creed outworn; So might I, standing on this pleasant lea, Have glimpses that would make me less forlorn; Have sight of Proteus rising from the sea; Or hear old Triton blow his wreathe'  d horn.

—Wordsworth,William

Browse dictionary entries near tune

  1. tundra
  2. Tunbridge Wells
  3. tunable
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  5. tun
  6. tumulus
  7. tumultuous
  8. tumultuary
  9. tumult
  10. tumulose
  1. tune in
  2. tune up
  3. tuneful
  4. tuneless
  5. tuner
  6. tunesmith
  7. tuneup
  8. tung oil
  9. tung tree
  10. tungstate