tune
see also: Tune
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /tjuːn/, /tʃuːn/
  • (America) IPA: /t(j)un/
Noun

tune

  1. A melody.
  2. A song, or short musical composition.
  3. (informal) The act of tuning or maintenance.
    Your engine needs a good tune.
  4. The state or condition of being correctly tuned.
    Your engine is now in tune.
    This piano is not in tune.
  5. (obsolete) Temper; frame of mind.
  6. (obsolete) A sound; a note; a tone.
    • c. 1608–1609, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: Printed by Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, OCLC 606515358 ↗, [Act II, scene iii]:
      the tune of your voices
  7. (obsolete) Order; harmony; concord.
    • 1693, [John Locke], “§72”, in Some Thoughts Concerning Education, London: […] A[wnsham] and J[ohn] Churchill, […], OCLC 1161614482 ↗, page 76 ↗:
      A child will learn three times as much when he is in tune, as when he […] is dragged unwillingly to [his task].
Related terms Translations Translations Translations
  • Italian: regolazione, messa a punto
  • Portuguese: tunar
  • Russian: настро́йка
Translations
  • Russian: настро́енный
Interjection
  1. (UK, slang) Used to show appreciation or approval of a song.
    You heard the new Rizzle Kicks song? — Tune!
Verb

tune (tunes, present participle tuning; past and past participle tuned)

  1. To adjust (a musical instrument) so that it produces the correct pitches.
    to tune a piano or a violin
    • 1681, John Dryden, The Spanish Friar, or the Double Discovery, London: Richard Tonson & Jacob Tonson, Act II, p. 21,
      She bids me hope; oh Heav’ns; she pities me!
      And pity still foreruns approching love;
      As Lightning does the Thunder! Tune your Harps
      Ye Angels to that sound […]
  2. To adjust or modify (esp. a mechanical or electrical device) so that it functions optimally.
    Tuning the engine gave me an extra twenty horsepower.
    Tune your mind, and anything becomes possible.
  3. To adjust the frequency on a radio or TV set, so as to receive the desired channel.
    Tune in to Channel 6 for all your favourite daytime shows.
  4. (e.g. of senses or faculties) To adapt to or direct towards a particular target.
    My ears were tuned to the sounds of the forest.
  5. To make more precise, intense, or effective; to put into a proper state or disposition.
  6. To attune; to adapt in style of music; to make harmonious.
    • 1645, John Milton, “The Passion” in Poems of Mr. John Milton, both English and Latin, London: Humphrey Moseley, p. 17,
      For now to sorrow must I tune my song,
      And set my Harpe to notes of saddest wo,
  7. (transitive) To give a certain tone or character to.
  8. (obsolete) To sing with melody or harmony.
    • circa 1594 William Shakespeare, Love's Labour's Lost, Act IV, Scene 3,
      To see great Hercules whipping a gig,
      And profound Solomon to tune a jig,
    • 1667, John Milton, Paradise Lost, London, Book 5, lines 195-196,
      Fountains and yee, that warble, as ye flow,
      Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
  9. (South Africa, slang, transitive) To cheek; to be impudent towards.
    Are you tuning me?
Related terms Translations Translations Translations Translations
Tune
Proper noun
  1. Surname



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