tuning fork

American  

noun

1. a steel instrument consisting of a stem with two prongs, producing a musical tone of definite, constant pitch when struck, and serving as a standard for tuning musical instruments, making acoustical experiments, and the like.

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tuning fork British  

noun

1. a two-pronged metal fork that when struck produces a pure note of constant specified pitch. It is used to tune musical instruments and in acoustics

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Etymology

Origin of tuning fork

First recorded in 1765–75

Example Sentences

Be “meticulously thoughtful” about one’s needs and comforts, hence the tuning fork.

From Salon • Aug. 3, 2025

They also approached the spiders with a tuning fork that vibrated at the same frequency as the insects’ beating wings.

From Science Magazine • Dec. 4, 2024

The U-M researchers point to what's called the Hubble tuning fork, a diagram that depicts the way astronomer Edwin Hubble classified galaxies.

From Science Daily • Nov. 21, 2023

Then she held a tuning fork over our heads.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 7, 2023

She picked up the mallet and put all of her anger into a single, powerful strike at the tuning fork.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman