Tune (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

noun
  1. a succession of musical sounds forming a melody, with or without the harmony accompanying it: He hummed a little tune and tapped his foot on the pavement.
  2. a musical setting composed for a specific set of lyrics or words: She composed a new tune for the hymn in 1872, which is now the one most commonly used in church choirs.
  3. the state of being in the proper pitch: He struggled to keep his guitar in tune on stage.
  4. agreement in pitch; unison or harmony: The two voices were perfectly in tune.
  5. proper adjustment, as of radio instruments or circuits with respect to frequency.
  6. the state of being aware of and in harmony with someone or something else: The foundation works very closely with the local leadership in each community, and is in tune with what they need.
  7. frame of mind; mood.
  8. a tone or sound.
verb (used with object), tuned, tun·ing.
  1. to adjust (a musical instrument) to a correct or given standard of pitch (often followed by up): All you need to tune a piano is the correct equipment—and a really good sense of pitch.
  2. to adapt (the voice, song, etc.) to a particular tone, to the expression of a particular feeling, or the like: For some, Christmas means tuning your voices to carols and hymns.
  3. to bring (someone or something) into harmony.
  4. to adjust for proper functioning or for the desired results: The car has a nitrogen sensor that makes it easy for a technician to tune the engine to meet emissions permit levels.Examples like this are valuable to us because we can use them to tune our algorithms.
  5. 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.
  6. to put into or cause to be in a receptive condition, mood, etc.; bring into harmony or agreement: Try to learn the lessons and tune your brain to start thinking this way, and you'll do just fine in the program.In order to further expand our business, we’ll have to tune our approach to the different conditions in different markets.
  7. Archaic.
    • to utter, sound, or express musically.
    • to play upon (a lyre).
verb (used without object), tuned, tun·ing.
  1. to put a musical instrument in tune (often followed by up): We'll be starting the jam session right at 8 p.m.—come early if you need to tune up.
  2. to give forth a musical sound.
  3. to be in harmony or accord; become responsive.
Verb Phrases
  1. to adjust a radio or television set so as to receive (signals, a particular station, etc.).
  2. tune out,
    • to adjust a radio or television set so as to stop or avoid receiving (a station or channel).
    • to stop paying attention to a person, situation, etc.
  3. 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.
Idioms
  1. to decide matters of policy; control: He was technically running the business, but his father still called the tune.
  2. to reverse one's views; change one's mind: She changed her tune about children when she married and had her own.
  3. 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.
  4. stay tuned,
    • to continue watching a television channel or listening to a radio station: Stay tuned for more classic and contemporary hits.
    • to keep alert or be on the lookout: Stay tuned for our next post with a list of nearby hotels with favorable rates.You can see the early stages of the site now, and stay tuned for future developments.
  5. in or about the amount of: In order to expand, they will need capital to the tune of six million dollars.
noun
  1. U.S. dancer, choreographer, actor, singer, and director.
noun
  1. a melody, esp one for which harmony is not essential
  2. the most important part in a musical texture
  3. the condition of producing accurately pitched notes, intervals, etc (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune)
  4. accurate correspondence of pitch and intonation between instruments (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune)
  5. 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)
  6. a frame of mind; disposition or mood
  7. a musical sound; note
  8. to be in control of the proceedings
  9. to alter one's attitude or tone of speech
  10. to the amount or extent of
verb
  1. to adjust (a musical instrument or a changeable part of one) to a certain pitch
  2. to adjust (a note, etc) so as to bring it into harmony or concord
  3. to adapt or adjust (oneself); attune
  4. to make fine adjustments to (an engine, machine, etc) to obtain optimum performance
  5. to adjust (one or more circuits) for resonance at a desired frequency
  6. to utter (something) musically or in the form of a melody; sing
  7. to annoy or harass someone
Tune (noun) Definition, Meaning & Examples

More Definitions