26984 words

tunes

17 definitions • 26 examples
1
a series of musical notes, especially one that is pleasant and easy to remember:

Examples:

He was humming a tune as he dried the dishes.
catchy tune That's a very catchy tune (= easy to remember and pleasant).
2
singing or playing notes that are at the right pitch (= level) or that agree with others being sung or played:

Examples:

She can't even sing in tune.
3
singing or playing notes that are at the wrong pitch (= level) or that do not agree with others being sung or played:

Examples:

The piano is out of tune.
4
If you are in tune with people or ideas, you understand or agree with them, and if you are out of tune with them, you do not:

Examples:

Much of his success comes from being in tune with what his customers want.
5
to the stated amount:

Examples:

The City Council had financed the new building to the tune of over four million pounds.
6
a
7
to change a part of a musical instrument so that the instrument produces the correct sounds when played:

Examples:

Get into the habit of tuning your guitar every day before you practise.
tune something (up) She tuned (up) her violin before the concert.
8
to move the controls on a radio, television, etc. so that it receives programmes broadcast from a particular station:

Examples:

tune itself to something Press this button and the video will automatically tune itself to the next channel.
be tuned to His radio is constantly tuned to KROQ-FM, the local rock station.
9
to make slight changes to an engine so that it works as well as possible:

Examples:

tune (up) an engine The engine needs tuning, but there's nothing wrong with the car.
Could you tune (up) the engine for me, please?
10
a series of musical notes, esp. one that is pleasant and easy to remember; a melody:

Examples:

That’s a very pretty tune.
11
the state of being adjusted to the correct pitch (= degree to which a musical note is high or low) :

Examples:

This piano is out of tune (= the notes are too high or low).
Paul just can’t sing in tune (= with correctly produced notes).
12
to adjust a musical instrument so the sounds produced are the correct pitch (= degree to which the sound is high or low):

Examples:

Tune your guitar before you practice.
13
to move the controls on a radio or television set so that it receives programs broadcast from a particular station:

Examples:

Tune your radio to 88.3 FM.
14
to change the setting of particular parts of an engine so that it works as well as possible:

Examples:

The engine needs tuning.
15
if a person or organization is in tune with people or ideas, they are able to understand them:

Examples:

These new products are in tune with the requirements of a younger market.
His approach to HR is in tune with the new management policies.
16
used to talk about how much something costs:

Examples:

The organization is funded by the UN to the tune of $30 million.
The company is in debt to the tune of several million Euros.
17
to make small improvements to something so that it is as good as possible for a particular purpose:

Examples:

The project deals with tuning and optimising database performance for a leading UK charity.
They need time to tune the launch of this product.

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