modulate
/ˈmɒdjʊleɪt
/verb [with object]
1Exert a modifying or controlling influence on: the state attempts to modulate private business’s cash flow...
- Much of this effort will be directed, in one form or other, at modulating the regulatory systems controlling physiological systems.
- Generally more economical shower controls modulate only temperature.
- This influence works both by modulating endocrine function such as insulin secretion and by increasing the rate of glycogenolysis and fatty acid mobilization.
Synonyms
regulate, adjust, set, attune, balance, harmonize, temper, modify, moderate
2Vary the strength, tone, or pitch of (one’s voice): we all modulate our voice by hearing it...
- The way one modulates the voice, its pitch, tone and tenor to speak to different persons is nothing but mimicry.
- The man could modulate his voice into a great variety of tones, booming, hushed, lyrical, penitent, frightened.
- And, like any good schoolteacher, she modulates her voice to great effect; during moments of particular drama, she is known for speaking to juries in a barely audible whisper.
Synonyms
adjust, change the tone of, vary, inflect
2.1Alter the amplitude or frequency of (an electromagnetic wave or other oscillation) in accordance with the variations of a second signal, typically one of a lower frequency: radio waves are modulated to carry the analogue information of the voice...
- Method and apparatus for transmitting broadband amplitude modulated radio frequency signals over optical links
- A method and apparatus for equalizing a received quadrature amplitude modulated signal is disclosed.
- Multiple radio channel frequency signals that are modulated with respective information modulation are transmitted from a common antenna at multiple radio frequencies.
2.2 [no object] Music Change from one key to another: the first half of the melody, modulating from E minor to G...
- However, there were exceptions; Domenico Scarlatti, for example, sometimes chose to modulate to the mediant at the end of the first section.
- Each of the first movements is, in its way, a grand synthesis of ritornello and sonata form: only one, K.449, modulates out of the home key in the opening tutti.
- In any case, this limits a composer's ability to modulate on the piano, where players can't adjust intonation, except crudely and awkwardly, while they perform.
2.3 [no object] (modulate into) Change from one form or condition into (another): the fraught silence would modulate into conciliatory monosyllables...
- It is likely that the military activity will have to modulate into the form of intensive, highly militarised policing which characterised the last 30 years in Northern Ireland.
- This morning I'd allowed my gazing into space to modulate into a full-scale reverie, and I'd lost track completely.
- After this opening, the images of aggression modulate into images that expose the force of her wisdom and erotic energy.
Derivatives
modulator
/ noun ...- The electroholographic system consists of a special-purpose computational chip and a high-resolution, reflective mode, liquid-crystal display panel as a spatial light modulator.
- I often assign pitch bend as a modulator of pan position allowing me to slide sounds around in the stereo field.
- Health shops are swamped with immune-boosters, but the remedy I want to recommend is a modulator.
Origin
Mid 16th century (in the sense 'intone a song'): from Latin modulat- 'measured, made melody', from the verb modulari, from modulus 'measure' (see modulus).
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