tune

TOON/tun/TYOON/tjuːn/

19 meanings of tune

1
nouncountable
A series of musical notes that sound nice when played in order.
Like a path your voice follows up and down through different notes.
She hummed a happy tune while washing the dishes.
The children sang a simple tune they had learned at school.
Similarmelody, air, strain, theme
2
nouncountable
A short piece of music, or a song.
They played our favorite tune at the wedding.
This band writes catchy tunes that everyone loves.
Similarsong, track, number, piece
3
verbtransitive
To set a musical instrument so it plays the right notes.
Like fixing the notes on an instrument until they all sound right.
He needs to tune his guitar before the show.
The pianist tuned each string carefully.
4
verbtransitive
To set a radio or TV to get the channel you want.
Tune the radio to the morning news station.
He tuned the old TV until the picture became clear.
Similarset, adjust
Note
5
verbtransitive
To adjust a machine so that it works as well as possible.
Like adjusting a bike's gears until it rides smoothly.
A good mechanic can tune your car's engine in an hour.
He tuned the motor so it ran more smoothly.
Similaradjust, optimize, calibrate, tweak
6
noununcountable
The state of playing the right notes and sounding correct.
The piano is finally in tune again after the repair.
Your guitar sounds out of tune to me.
Note
7
nouncolloquialcountable
A quick adjustment or fix to make something work better.
The car needs a tune before the long road trip.
I gave my bike a quick tune over the weekend.
Similarservice, overhaul
8
verbtransitive
To get your senses or attention ready to notice a certain thing.
Like training your ears to pick out one friend's voice in a noisy crowd.
Over time, birdwatchers tune their ears to faint calls.
She tuned her attention to the quiet sounds of the forest.
Similarattune, train, adapt, accustom
9
verbtransitive
To make something work better or more exactly.
Like adjusting a recipe little by little until it tastes just right.
Coaches tune their training plans to each athlete's needs.
The team tuned its strategy after every game.
Similarrefine, hone, polish, perfect, optimize
10
verbtransitive
To make things fit together so they feel in harmony.
Like matching your steps to a partner's so you move as one.
Good leaders tune their words to the mood of the room.
The poet tuned her lines to a gentle, flowing rhythm.
Similarattune, adapt, adjust, harmonize, tailor

11
verbtransitive
To put music to words so they can be sung.
She tuned the old poem to a gentle folk melody.
Composers often tune well-known verses to fresh melodies.
Similarset
Note
12
verbtransitive
To give something a certain feeling or mood.
The director tuned the whole scene to a darker mood.
Writers tune their stories to match the feelings they want.
Similarpitch, tailor, adapt, suit, attune
13
verbobsolete
To sing sweetly, with melody and harmony.
To ſee great Hercules whipping a Gigge, / And profound Sallomon to tune a Iigge.
c. 1595, William Shakespeare, A Pleasant Conceited Comedie CalledHere, tune means to sing or make music.
Fountains and yee, that warble, as ye flow, / Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praiſe.
1667, John Milton, Paradise LostHere, tune means to sing with melody.
Note
14
interjectionslangUK
A shout of approval when a great song comes on.
Like shouting 'Yes!' the second your favorite song begins to play.
Tune! This is my favorite song!
When the DJ played that track, everyone shouted 'Tune!'
Note
15
verbslangSouth Africatransitive
To talk back to someone in a rude or cheeky way.
Like talking back to an adult who just told you to be quiet.
Don't tune your teacher when she asks you to sit down.
He tuned the shopkeeper and was told to leave at once.
Similarsass, cheek
Note
16
verbslangtransitive
To adjust the settings of singing software so a computer voice sounds more human.
Like turning the dials on a sound system until the music sounds just right.
She spent hours tuning the song until the vocals sounded real.
Fans tune the software to make the voice sing smoothly.
Similartweak, adjust
Note
17
nounobsoletecountable
A sound, note, or tone that you can hear.
Pray you now, if it may the ſtand with the tune of your voices, that I may bee Conſull, I haue heere the Cuſtomarie Gowne.
c. 1608, William Shakespeare, “The Tragedy of Coriolanus”Here, tune means the sound or tone of voices.
Note
18
nounobsoleteuncountable
A state when things are in order and work well together.
Note
19
nounobsoleteusually singular
Someone's mood or state of mind.
He came home in a merry tune after the fair.
She was in no tune for visitors that gloomy morning.
Note

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Middle English "tune," an unexplained form of "tone," which goes back through Old French and Latin to Ancient Greek "tónos," meaning a tone.