Definify.com

Webster 1913 Edition


Tune

Tune

(tūn)
,
Noun.
[A variant of
tone
.]
1.
A sound; a note; a tone.
“The tune of your voices.”
Shak.
2.
(Mus.)
(a)
A rhythmical, melodious, symmetrical series of tones for one voice or instrument, or for any number of voices or instruments in unison, or two or more such series forming parts in harmony; a melody; an air;
as, a merry
tune
; a mournful
tune
; a slow
tune
; a psalm
tune
. See
Air
.
(b)
The state of giving the proper sound or sounds; just intonation; harmonious accordance; pitch of the voice or an instrument; adjustment of the parts of an instrument so as to harmonize with itself or with others;
as, the piano, or the organ, is not in
tune
.
Like sweet bells jangled, out of
tune
and harsh.
Shakespeare
3.
Order; harmony; concord; fit disposition, temper, or humor; right mood.
A child will learn three times as much when he is in
tune
, as when he . . . is dragged unwillingly to [his task].
Locke.

Tune

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Tuned
(tūnd)
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Tuning
.]
1.
To put into a state adapted to produce the proper sounds; to harmonize, to cause to be in tune; to correct the tone of;
as, to
tune
a piano or a violin
.
Tune your harps.”
Dryden.
2.
To give tone to; to attune; to adapt in style of music; to make harmonious.
For now to sorrow must I
tune
my song.
Milton.
3.
To sing with melody or harmony.
Fountains, and ye, that warble, as ye flow,
Melodious murmurs, warbling
tune
his praise.
Milton.
4.
To put into a proper state or disposition.
Shak.

Tune

(tūn)
,
Verb.
I.
1.
To form one sound to another; to form accordant musical sounds.
Whilst
tuning
to the water’s fall,
The small birds sang to her.
Drayton.
2.
To utter inarticulate harmony with the voice; to sing without pronouncing words; to hum.
[R.]

Webster 1828 Edition


Tune

TUNE

,
Noun.
[L. tonus.]
1.
A series of musical notes in some particular measure, and consisting of a single series, for one voice or instrument, the effect of which is melody; or a union of two or more series or parts to be sung or played in concert, the effect of which is harmony. Thus we say, a merry tune, a lively tune, a grave tune, a psalm tune, a martial tune.
2.
Sound; note.
3.
Harmony; order; concert of parts.
A continual parliament I thought would but keep the commonweal in tune.
4.
The state of giving the proper sounds; as when we say, a harpsichord is in tune; that is, when the several chords are of that tension, that each gives its proper sound, and the sounds of all are at due intervals, both of tones and semitones.
5.
Proper state for use or application; right disposition; fit temper or humor. The mind is not in tune for mirth.
A child will learn three times as fast when he is in tune,as he will when he is dragged to this task.

TUNE

,
Verb.
T.
To put into a state adapted to produce the proper sounds; as, to tune a forte-piano; to tune a violin.
Tune your harps.
1.
To sing with melody or harmony.
Fountains, and ye that warble as ye flow
Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
So we say of birds, they tune their notes or lays.
2.
To put into a state proper for any purpose, or adapted to produce a particular effect. [Little used.]

TUNE

,
Verb.
I.
To form one sound to another.
While tuning to the waters'fall
The small birds sang to her.
1.
To utter inarticulate harmony with the voice.

Definition 2024


tune

tune

See also: tuné

English

Noun

tune (plural tunes)

  1. A melody.
  2. A song, or short musical composition.
  3. (informal) The act of tuning or maintenance.
    Your engine needs a good tune.
  4. The state or condition of being correctly tuned.
    Your engine is now in tune.
    This piano is not in tune.
  5. (Britain, slang) A very good song.
    You heard the new Rizzle Kicks song? —Mate, that is a tune!
  6. (obsolete) A sound; a note; a tone.
    • Shakespeare
      the tune of your voices
  7. (obsolete) Order; harmony; concord.
    • John Locke
      A child will learn three times as much when he is in tune, as when he [] is dragged unwillingly to [his task].

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Verb

tune (third-person singular simple present tunes, present participle tuning, simple past and past participle tuned)

  1. To modify a musical instrument so that it produces the correct pitches.
    to tune a piano or a violin
    • Dryden
      Tune your harps.
  2. To adjust a mechanical, electric or electronic device (such as a radio or a car engine) so that it functions optimally.
  3. To make more precise, intense, or effective; to put into a proper state or disposition.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Shakespeare to this entry?)
  4. To give tone to; to attune; to adapt in style of music; to make harmonious.
    • Milton
      For now to sorrow must I tune my song.
  5. To sing with melody or harmony.
    • Milton
      Fountains, and ye, that warble, as ye flow, / Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
  6. (South Africa, slang, transitive) To cheek; to be impudent towards.
    Are you tuning me?

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

Anagrams


French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /tyn/

Noun

tune f (plural tunes)

  1. (slang) Alternative spelling of thune

Anagrams


German

Verb

tune

  1. First-person singular present of tunen.
  2. First-person singular subjunctive I of tunen.
  3. Third-person singular subjunctive I of tunen.
  4. Imperative singular of tunen.

Ngarrindjeri

tune or sand

Noun

tune

  1. sand

Portuguese

Verb

tune

  1. first-person singular present subjunctive of tunar
  2. third-person singular present subjunctive of tunar
  3. first-person singular imperative of tunar
  4. third-person singular imperative of tunar

Tarantino

Pronoun

tune (personal, second person singular)

  1. you

tune m (possessive) (Feminine: toje

  1. your