modulate
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mod·u·late
(mŏj′ə-lāt′)v. mod·u·lat·ed, mod·u·lat·ing, mod·u·lates
v.tr.
1. To regulate or adjust to a certain degree: physiological mechanisms that modulate the body's metabolic rate.
2. To change or vary the pitch, intensity, or tone of (one's voice or a musical instrument, for example).
3. Electronics
a. To vary the frequency, amplitude, phase, or other characteristic of (electromagnetic waves).
b. To vary (electron velocity) in an electron beam.
4. Biochemistry To act on (a receptor, for example) as an activator, an inhibitor, or both.
v.intr. Music
To move from one key or tonality to another by means of a melody or chord progression.
[Latin modulārī, modulāt-, to measure off, to regulate, from modulus, diminutive of modus, measure; see med- in Indo-European roots.]
mod′u·la·bil′i·ty n.
mod′u·la′tive, mod′u·la·to′ry (-lə-tôr′ē) adj.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
modulate
(ˈmɒdjʊˌleɪt)vb
1. (tr) to change the tone, pitch, or volume of
2. (tr) to adjust or regulate the degree of
3. (Music, other) music
a. to subject to or undergo modulation in music
b. (often foll by to) to make or become in tune (with a pitch, key, etc)
4. (Electrical Engineering) (tr) physics electronics to cause to vary by a process of modulation
5. (General Physics) (tr) physics electronics to cause to vary by a process of modulation
[C16: from Latin modulātus in due measure, melodious, from modulārī to regulate, from modus measure]
modulability n
ˈmodulative, ˈmodulatory adj
ˈmoduˌlator n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
mod•u•late
(ˈmɒdʒ əˌleɪt)v. -lat•ed, -lat•ing. v.t.
1. to regulate by or adjust to a certain measure or proportion.
2. to alter or adapt (the voice) according to the circumstances, one's listener, etc.
3. to cause the amplitude, frequency, phase, or intensity of (a carrier wave) to vary in accordance with a sound wave or other signal.
v.i. 4. to modulate a carrier wave.
5. to move harmonically from one key to a related key.
mod`u•la•bil′i•ty (-ləˈbɪl ɪ ti) n.
mod′u•la`tive, mod′u•la•to`ry (-ˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i) adj.
mod′u•la`tor, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
mod·u·late
(mŏj′ə-lāt′) To vary the amplitude, frequency, or some other characteristic of electromagnetic waves in a way that makes them correspond to a signal or to information that is to be transmitted.
The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
modulate
Past participle: modulated
Gerund: modulating
| Imperative |
|---|
| modulate |
| modulate |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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| Verb | 1. |  modulate - change the key of, in music; "modulate the melody"music - musical activity (singing or whistling etc.); "his music was his central interest" |
| 2. | modulate - vary the pitch of one's speech | |
| 3. |  modulate - fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of; "regulate the temperature"; "modulate the pitch" | |
| 4. | modulate - adjust the pitch, tone, or volume of | |
| 5. |  modulate - vary the frequency, amplitude, phase, or other characteristic of (electromagnetic waves) |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
modulate
verb adjust, balance, vary, tone, tune, regulate, harmonize, inflect, attune He carefully modulated his voice.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
Translations
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
modulate
(Mus, Rad)vt → modulieren
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
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