tune

[ toon, tyoon ]

/ tun, tyun /

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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.

OTHER WORDS FOR tune

14 harmonize, balance.

17 chime.

See synonyms for tune on Thesaurus.com

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Idioms about tune

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

OTHER WORDS FROM tune

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

Other definitions for tune (2 of 2)

Tune

[ toon, tyoon ]

/ tun, tyun /

noun

Thomas James "Tommy", born 1939, U.S. dancer, choreographer, actor, singer, and director.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use tune in a sentence

But as you get older, I find I get more tunes and I have to work harder at the words.
Belle & Sebastian Aren’t So Shy Anymore|James Joiner|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Yes, Trainor managed to pen a few songs for Rascal Flatts, but she was more interested in crafting pop tunes.
‘All About That Bass’ Singer Meghan Trainor On Haters and Her Polarizing (and Unlikely) No. 1 Hit|Marlow Stern|October 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then he called out “Cherokee,” the name of one of the most famous, and fastest, tunes in the bebop repertoire.
Why Comedians Still Think Bill Cosby Is a Genius|Mark Whitaker|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Most of the eleven tunes on Songs are absolutely drowning in effects.
U2 Generously Gives Us a Lousy Album, Sucks at the Corporate Teat|Hampton Stevens|September 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

With music by Leonard Bernstein, this iconic show has tunes like “New York, New York,” that are part of American lore.
Fall Broadway Preview: 'This Is Our Youth,' Bradley Cooper as ‘The Elephant Man,' and More|Janice Kaplan|September 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Controve, compose or invent tunes, foule fayle, fail miserably.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer
It wants song tunes for that, the liveliest and softest airs, the sweetest songs.
Child Life In Town And Country|Anatole France
If you took a flute and played certain tunes on it, all of the snakes would come out of their holes and dance to the music!
Kari the Elephant|Dhan Gopal Mukerji
Knowing this power of music over animals, I wanted to train Kari and Kopee to follow the tunes of my flute.
Kari the Elephant|Dhan Gopal Mukerji
They then teach them to obey; some by words; others they pacify by tunes, accompanied with the beating of a drum.
The Geography of Strabo, Volume III (of 3)|Strabo

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

Other 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

OTHER WORDS FOR tune

Idioms about tune

Origin of tune

OTHER WORDS FROM tune

Other definitions for tune (2 of 2)

Words related to tune

How to use tune in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for tune

Word Origin for tune

Other Idioms and Phrases with tune