tuner
Americannoun
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a person or thing that tunes.
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the portion of a radio or television receiver that captures the broadcast signal and feeds it to other circuits in the set for further processing.
noun
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a person who tunes instruments, esp pianos
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the part of a radio or television receiver for selecting only those signals having a particular frequency
Etymology
Origin of tuner
1570–80; 1905–10 tuner for def. 2; tune + -er 1
Explanation
A tuner is an electronic device that receives signals and allows you to listen to the radio or watch television. Another kind of tuner is used to adjust the pitch of a musical instrument. One kind of tuner can receive digital signals so you can watch television, and another kind is built into your car radio. A person can be a tuner too, such as an expert who makes adjustments to a piano's strings until the pitch is correct. There are also small electronic tuners that attach to an instrument like a guitar. Before it meant "instrument adjuster," a tuner was a "musician or singer."
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A chance encounter with a piano tuner -- the husband of his wife's friend -- set him wondering what this previously unconsidered profession was all about.
From Barron's • Jan. 23, 2026
Drury, director of insights for Edmunds, believes the earth tones phenomenon may stem from car tuner subculture.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 7, 2023
His talent caught the attention of a piano tuner who surprised him with an amazing gift - a grand piano.
From BBC • Jan. 10, 2023
At 17 branches, you can borrow a ukulele, each with its own case, book of chords and a tuner.
From New York Times • Sep. 2, 2022
Each came with a shortwave tuner and a special “high-efficiency aerial” kit to ensure clear reception of both the standard radio broadcast on NBC and shortwave broadcasts in a variety of languages direct from Berlin.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
