tune

[ toon, tyoon ]

/ tun, tyun /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tune ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a succession of musical sounds forming an air or melody, with or without the harmony accompanying it.

a musical setting of a hymn, poem, psalm, etc., usually in four-part harmony.

the state of being in the proper pitch: to be in tune.

agreement in pitch; unison; harmony.

proper adjustment, as of radio instruments or circuits with respect to frequency.

harmonious relationship; accord; agreement.

Archaic. frame of mind; mood.

Obsolete. a tone or sound.

verb (used with object), tuned, tun·ing.

to adjust (a musical instrument) to a correct or given standard of pitch (often followed by up).

to adapt (the voice, song, etc.) to a particular tone, to the expression of a particular feeling, or the like.

to bring (someone or something) into harmony.

to adjust (a motor, mechanism, or the like) for proper functioning.

Radio and Television.

to adjust (a circuit, frequency, or the like) so as to bring it into resonance with another circuit, a given frequency, or the like.
to adjust (a receiving apparatus) so as to make it compatible in frequency with a transmitting apparatus whose signals are to be received.
to adjust (a receiving apparatus) so as to receive the signals of a particular transmitting station.

to put into or cause to be in a receptive condition, mood, etc.; bring into harmony or agreement.

Archaic.

to utter, sound, or express musically.
to play upon (a lyre).

verb (used without object), tuned, tun·ing.

to put a musical instrument in tune (often followed by up).

to give forth a musical sound.

to be in harmony or accord; become responsive.

Verb Phrases

tune in, to adjust a radio or television set so as to receive (signals, a particular station, etc.).

tune out,

to adjust a radio or television set so as to stop or avoid receiving (a station or channel).
Slang. to stop paying attention to a person, situation, etc.

tune up,

to cause a group of musical instruments to be brought to the same pitch.
to begin to sing.
to bring into proper operating order, as a motor: Before starting on our trip we should have the car tuned up.

Nearby words

tunbridge ware, tunbridge wells, tundish, tundra, tundra swan, tune, tune in, tune out, tune up, tune, tommy, tune-up

Idioms

call the tune, to decide matters of policy; control: He was technically running the business, but his father still called the tune.

change one's tune, to reverse one's views; change one's mind: She changed her tune about children when she married and had her own.

sing a different tune, to be forced to change one's ways, attitude, behavior, etc.: He will sing a different tune when he has to earn his own money.

to the tune of, Informal. in or about the amount of: In order to expand, they will need capital to the tune of six million dollars.

Origin of tune

1350–1400; Middle English (noun); unexplained variant of tone

SYNONYMS FOR tune

14 harmonize, balance.

17 chime.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tune ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

mis·tune, verb, mis·tuned, mis·tun·ing.non·tuned, adjectivere·tune, verb (used with object), re·tuned, re·tun·ing.un·der·tune, noun

un·der·tune, verb (used with object), un·der·tuned, un·der·tun·ing.un·tuned, adjectivewell-tuned, adjective

Definition for tune (2 of 2)

Tune

[ toon, tyoon ]

/ tun, tyun /

noun

Thomas JamesTommy, born 1939, U.S. dancer, choreographer, actor, singer, and director.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for tune

It starts off like any other Lana tune, replete with minor chords and humming, distorted vocals.
The 14 Best Songs of 2014: Bobby Shmurda, Future Islands, Drake, and More|Marlow Stern|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It would take a few years for the ministry to change its tune on Borat.
When Countries Lose Their Shit Over American Movies|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tune in next week for the rest of our in-depth interview with Mockingjay director Francis Lawrence.
What ‘The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1’ Has in Common with ISIS Videos and Killing Bin Laden|Marlow Stern|November 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He can even hold a tune, as his scene-stealing turn in Les Miserables proved.
Eddie Redmayne’s Time Has Come: On His Heartrending Turn as Stephen Hawking and Benedict Bromance|Marlow Stern|November 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

After all, ESPN is officially a business partner of the NFL to the tune of $5 billion plus per annum.
How the Media Failed to Nail the NFL|Steve Almond|October 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then he endeavoured to hum a tune; but his voice seemed to choke him.
The Mysteries of London, v. 1/4|George W. M. Reynolds
And it must have been; every morning for eighty-nine days the gaudy music box faithfully played the tune over and over again.
Tramping on Life|Harry Kemp
Then he told her how to adjust her spark-gap and tune the instrument to any given wave-length.
The Young Wireless Operator--As a Fire Patrol|Lewis E. Theiss
Larry was in the height of his glory, just getting out his fiddle to give them a tune in honour of our return.
Paddy Finn|W. H. G. Kingston
A barrel-organ was grinding out a tune; children danced in the sunshine on the pavement.
The Kingdom Round the Corner|Coningsby Dawson

British Dictionary definitions for tune

tune

/ (tjuːn) /

noun

a melody, esp one for which harmony is not essential

the most important part in a musical texturethe cello has the tune at that point

the condition of producing accurately pitched notes, intervals, etc (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune)he can't sing in tune

accurate correspondence of pitch and intonation between instruments (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune)the violin is not in tune with the piano

the correct adjustment of a radio, television, or some other electronic circuit with respect to the required frequency (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune)

a frame of mind; disposition or mood

obsolete a musical sound; note

call the tune to be in control of the proceedings

change one's tune, sing another tune or sing another a different tune to alter one's attitude or tone of speech

to the tune of informal to the amount or extent ofcosts to the tune of a hundred pounds

verb

to adjust (a musical instrument or a changeable part of one) to a certain pitch

to adjust (a note, etc) so as to bring it into harmony or concord

(tr) to adapt or adjust (oneself); attuneto tune oneself to a slower life

(tr often foll by up) to make fine adjustments to (an engine, machine, etc) to obtain optimum performance

electronics to adjust (one or more circuits) for resonance at a desired frequency

obsolete to utter (something) musically or in the form of a melody; sing

tune someone grief Southern African slang to annoy or harass someone

Word Origin for tune

C14: variant of tone

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for tune (1 of 2)

tune

late 14c., "a musical sound, a succession of musical notes," unexplained variant of tone. Meaning "state of being in proper pitch" is from mid-15c.

Word Origin and History for tune (1 of 2)

tune

"bring into a state of proper pitch," c.1500, from tune (n.). Non-musical meaning "to adjust an organ or receiver" is recorded from 1887. Verbal phrase tune in in reference to radio (later also TV) is recorded from 1913; figurative sense of "become aware" is recorded from 1926. Tune out "to eliminate radio reception" is recorded from 1908; figurative sense of "disregard, stop heeding" is from 1928. Related: Tuned; tuning.

Idioms and Phrases with tune

tune

In addition to the idioms beginning with tune

tune in
tune out
tune up

also see:

call the tune
carry a tune
change one's tune
dance to another tune
in tune
to the tune of

tune

noun

verb (used with object), tuned, tun·ing.

verb (used without object), tuned, tun·ing.

Verb Phrases

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of tune

Definition for tune (2 of 2)

Tune

noun

Examples from the Web for tune

British Dictionary definitions for tune

tune

noun

verb

Word Origin for tune

Word Origin and History for tune (1 of 2)

tune

Word Origin and History for tune (1 of 2)

tune

Idioms and Phrases with tune

tune