Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense tunes, present participle tuning, past tense, past participle tuned
1. countable noun
A tune is a series of musical notes that is pleasant and easy to remember.
She was humming a merry little tune.
Synonyms: melody, air, song, theme More Synonyms of tune
2. countable noun
You can refer to a song or a short piece of music as a tune.
She'll also be playing your favourite pop tunes.
3. verb
When someone tunes a musical instrument, they adjust it so that it produces the right notes.
'We do tune our guitars before we go on,' he insisted. [VERB noun]
Tune up means the same as tune.
Others were quietly tuning up their instruments. [VERBPARTICLE noun]
Synonyms: tune up, adjust, bring into harmony More Synonyms of tune
4. verb [usually passive]
When an engine or machine is tuned, it is adjusted so that it works well.
Drivers are urged to make sure that car engines are properly tuned. [beVERB-ed]
Tune up means the same as tune.
How much do they charge to tune up a Porsche? [VERBPARTICLE noun]
5. verb [usually passive]
If your radio or television is tunedto a particular broadcasting station, you are listening to or watching the programmes being broadcast by that station.
A small television was tuned to an afternoon soap opera. [beVERB-ed + to]
6. See also fine-tune, signature tune, tuning fork
7.
See to call the tune
8.
See to change your tune
9.
See to dance to someone's tune
10.
See in tune/out of tune
11.
See in tune with/out of tune with
12.
See to the tune of
13. he who pays the piper calls the tune
Phrasal verbs:
See tune in
See tune out
See tune up
More Synonyms of tune
tune in British English
(tjuːn)
noun
1.
a melody, esp one for which harmony is not essential
2.
the most important part in a musical texture
the cello has the tune at that point
3.
the condition of producing accurately pitched notes, intervals, etc (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune)
he can't sing in tune
4.
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
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. obsolete
a musical sound; note
8. call the tune
9. change one's tune
10. to the tune of
verb
11.
to adjust (a musical instrument or a changeable part of one) to a certain pitch
12.
to adjust (a note, etc) so as to bring it into harmony or concord
13. (transitive)
to adapt or adjust (oneself); attune
to tune oneself to a slower life
14. (transitive; often foll byup)
to make fine adjustments to (an engine, machine, etc) to obtain optimum performance
15. electronics
to adjust (one or more circuits) for resonance at a desired frequency
16. obsolete
to utter (something) musically or in the form of a melody; sing
17. tune someone grief
Word origin
C14: variant of tone
tune in American English
(tun; tjun)
noun
1. Obsolete
a sound or tone
2.
a.
a succession of musical tones forming a rhythmic, catchy whole; melody; air
b.
a musical setting of a hymn, psalm, poem, etc.
3.
the condition of having correct musical pitch, or of being in key; also, harmony; agreement; concord
now used chiefly in the phrases in tune and out of tune
a violin that is in tune, a person out of tune with the times
verb transitiveWord forms: tuned or ˈtuning
4.
to adjust (a musical instrument) to some standard of pitch; put in tune
5.
to adapt (music, the voice, etc.) to some pitch, tone, or mood
6.
to adapt to some condition, mood, etc.; bring into harmony or agreement
7. Rare
to utter or express musically
8.
a.
to adjust (a system, motor, etc.) to the proper or desired condition or performance
b.
to adjust (a radio or TV receiver) to a given frequency or channel
verb intransitive
9.
to be in tune; harmonize
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈmelody
Idioms:
call the tune
change one's tune
sing a different tune
to the tune of
tune in
tune out
tune up
Word origin
ME, var. of tone, tone
tune in Automotive Engineering1
(tun)
Word forms: (regular plural) tunes
noun
(Automotive engineering: Design and performance)
The tune of an engine is how well it is operating.
COLLOCATIONS: in ~
Below 3600 rpm, the engine goes back to its original state of tune, which means it uses less fuel.
The more efficient engine tune has also improved the fuel consumption.
The aim is to reduce both gasoline consumption and atmospheric pollution by ensuringthat engines are kept properly in tune.
tune in Automotive Engineering2
(tun)
Word forms: (present) tunes, (past) tuned, (perfect) tuned, (progressive) tuning
verb
(Automotive engineering: Design and performance)
When the engine of a vehicle is tuned, it is adjusted so that it works well.
The engine was rebuilt and carefully tuned by engineers.
The engine is tuned to produce around 75 brake horsepower.
The engine has been tuned for torque and fuel economy.
More idioms containing
tune
he who pays the piper calls the tune
sing the same tune
call the tune
change your tune
dance to someone's tune
sing a different tune
Examples of 'tune' in a sentence
tune
The find was made while the upright instrument was being tuned.
The Sun (2017)
We were totally in tune with one another.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
An average of one million viewers tuned in to the first series shown earlier this year.
The Sun (2016)
She truly cannot sing in tune and puts the rest of us o, to the point that some move away from her.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Write the theme tune, sing the theme tune, eh?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I. AM isn't feeling the says his show is the one want to tune in for.
The Sun (2017)
We can tune the engine either way.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Barbra will also perform new tunes and old classics.
The Sun (2009)
Old radio signature tunes and royal music are on the agenda.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Which is the oldest protest song without a tune.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You meet your new love as your favourite tune plays.
The Sun (2011)
When did you last hear a milkman whistling a current pop tune?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He tuned the first one too tightly.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Do you keep tuning your radio to cowboy music?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
How does that tune about singing in the valleys go again?
The Sun (2012)
Some people put body kits on their cars and spend immeasurable amounts of time tuning their engine.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
He cannot face the music when the tune is not to his liking.
Jenkins, Roy Truman (1986)
That he sang in tune and remembered the lyrics was perhaps its own triumph on a night of innocuous abandon.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
The industry is not only geared to speed on the racetrack but also is finely tuned to quick delivery times.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Indeed that mention of tunes points to the two rather different edges of revolution to which the new hymn book looked.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Do you remember the theme tune?
The Sun (2008)
To make tunes that powerful he must have poured his life into each note, right?
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
But your body's a finely tuned machine.
The Sun (2015)
They said sub-zero temperatures would have put their instruments out of tune.
The Sun (2009)
With solid tunes and great song construction, this is not simply a nostalgia trip.
The Sun (2014)
In other languages
tune
British English: tune /tjuːn/ NOUN
A tune is a series of musical notes that is pleasant to listen to.
...a merry little tune.
American English: tune
Arabic: لـَحْن
Brazilian Portuguese: melodia
Chinese: 音调
Croatian: melodija
Czech: melodie
Danish: sang
Dutch: wijsje
European Spanish: tonada
Finnish: sävelmä
French: air chanson
German: Melodie
Greek: μελωδία
Italian: melodia
Japanese: 曲
Korean: 곡조
Norwegian: melodi
Polish: melodia
European Portuguese: melodia
Romanian: melodie
Russian: мелодия
Latin American Spanish: tonada
Swedish: melodi
Thai: ทำนอง
Turkish: melodi
Ukrainian: мелодія
Vietnamese: giai điệu
British English: tune VERB
When someone tunes a musical instrument, they adjust it so that it produces the right notes.
We do tune our guitars before we go on', he insisted.
American English: tune
Brazilian Portuguese: afinar
Chinese: 调音为 乐器
European Spanish: afinar
French: accorder
German: stimmen
Italian: accordare
Japanese: 調律する
Korean: 악기를 조율하다
European Portuguese: afinar
Latin American Spanish: afinar
All related terms of 'tune'
tune in
If you tune in to a particular television or radio station or programme, you watch or listen to it.
tune up
When a group of musicians tune up , they adjust their instruments so that they produce the right notes.
fine-tune
If you fine-tune something, you make very small and precise changes to it in order to make it as successful or effective as it possibly can be.
tune out
If you tune out , you stop listening or paying attention to what is being said .
carry a tune
to be able to sing in tune
signature tune
A signature tune is the tune which is always played at the beginning or end of a particular television or radio programme, or which people associate with a particular performer.
call the tune
to be in control of a situation and make all the important decisions
tuneup
an adjusting , as of an engine, to the proper or required condition or performance
in tune/out of tune
A person or musical instrument that is in tune produces exactly the right notes . A person or musical instrument that is out of tune does not produce exactly the right notes.
change one's tune
to alter one's attitude or tone of speech
change your tune
to express a different opinion about something or someone from the one you had expressed before
to call the tune
If you say that a person or organization is calling the tune , you mean that they are in a position of power or control in a particular situation .
to the tune of
To the tune of a particular amount of money means to the extent of that amount.
tune someone grief
to annoy or harass someone
theme music
music played at the beginning and end of a programme or film
sing the same tune
to continue to express the same ideas or opinions that you have expressed before
dance to another tune
to alter one's actions or opinions as a result of changed conditions
sing a different tune
to express ideas or opinions which are in complete contrast to the ones which you were expressing a short time ago
to change your tune
If you say that someone has changed their tune , you are criticizing them because they have changed their opinion or way of doing things.
dance to someone's tune
to do whatever someone wants or tells you to do, usually without questioning them or hesitating . This expression is often used to criticize someone for allowing themselves to be controlled in this way.
in tune with/out of tune with
If you are in tune with a group of people, you are in agreement or sympathy with them. If you are out of tune with them, you are not in agreement or sympathy with them.
to dance to someone's tune
If you say that someone is dancing to someone else's tune , you mean that they are allowing themselves to be controlled by the other person.
pay the piper and call the tune
to bear the cost of an undertaking and control it
he who pays the piper calls the tune
If you say ' He who pays the piper ' or ' He who pays the piper calls the tune ', you mean that the person who provides the money for something decides what will be done, or has a right to decide what will be done.
Chinese translation of 'tune'
tune
(tjuːn)
n(c)
(= melody) 曲调(調) (qǔdiào) (个(個), gè)
vt
(Mus)[instrument]调(調) (tiáo)
[engine, machine]调(調)试(試) (tiáoshì)
[radio, TV]调(調)台(臺) (tiáotái)
to be in/out of tune[instrument]调(調)子正确(確)/不正确(確) (diàozi zhèngquè/bù zhèngquè) [singer]合/跑调(調) (hé/pǎodiào)
to be in/out of tune with (fig) 与(與) ... 协(協)调(調)/不协(協)调(調) (yǔ ... xiétiáo/bù xiétiáo)
to change one's tune转(轉)变(變)态(態)度 (zhuǎnbiàn tàidu)
to the tune of 10,000 pounds最大限额(額)到1万(萬)镑(鎊) (zuì dà xiàné dào yī wàn bàng)