tune up

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tune

(to͞on, tyo͞on)

1. Music

a. A melody, especially a simple and easily remembered one.

b. A song.

c. The state of being in correct pitch: sang out of tune; played in tune with the piano.

d. Obsolete A musical tone.

a. Concord or agreement; harmony: in tune with the times.

b. Archaic Frame of mind; disposition.

3. Electronics Adjustment of a receiver or circuit for maximum response to a given signal or frequency.

v. tuned, tun·ing, tunes

v.tr.

a. Music To put into proper pitch: tuned the violin.

b. Archaic To utter musically; sing.

2. To adjust or adopt in order to meet specific requirements or conditions, especially:

a. To adjust (an electronic receiver) to a desired frequency.

b. To adjust (an electronic circuit) so as to make it resonant with a given input signal.

c. To adjust (an engine, for example) for maximum usability or performance.

d. To adjust the wavelength output of (a laser).

v.intr.

To become attuned.

Phrasal Verbs:

tune in

1. Electronics To adjust a receiver to receive signals at a particular frequency or a particular program.

2. Slang To make or become aware or responsive: "Nobody tunes in to what anybody else is saying" (Bruce Allen).

tune out

1. Electronics To adjust a receiver so as not to receive a particular signal.

2. Slang

a. To disassociate oneself from one's environment: "The average reader, used to seeing the world in three-dimensional color, tunes out" (Carlin Romano).

b. To become unresponsive to; ignore: tuned out the children's screaming.

tune up

1. Music To adjust an instrument to a desired pitch or key.

2. To adjust a machine so as to put it into proper condition.

3. To prepare for a specified activity.

Idiom:

to the tune of

To the sum or extent of: produced profits to the tune of $10 million.

[Middle English, variant of tone, tone; see tone.]

tun′a·ble, tune′a·ble adj.

tun′a·bly, tune′a·bly adv.

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.

tune up

vb (adverb)

1. (Music, other) to adjust (a musical instrument) to a particular pitch, esp a standard one

2. (Music, other) (esp of an orchestra or other instrumental ensemble) to tune (instruments) to a common pitch

3. (Automotive Engineering) (tr) to adjust (an engine) in (a car, etc) to improve performance

(Automotive Engineering) adjustments made to an engine to improve its performance

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Verb	1.	tune up - adjust for (better) functioning; "tune the engine" tune adjust, correct, set - alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard; "Adjust the clock, please"; "correct the alignment of the front wheels" fine-tune, tweak - adjust finely; "fine-tune the engine" service - make fit for use; "service my truck"; "the washing machine needs to be serviced" tune in - regulate (a radio or television set) in order to receive a certain station or program
	2.	tune up - adjust the pitches of (musical instruments); "My piano needs to be tuned" tune adjust, correct, set - alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard; "Adjust the clock, please"; "correct the alignment of the front wheels"

Translations

يُضْبُط لَحْن آلات الأوركسْترا

ladit

stemme

stimmen

accorder

stilla

accordare mettere a punto

stemme instrumentene

akort etmek

调弦调音

w>tune up

vi (Mus) → (sein Instrument) stimmen

vt sep (Aut) engine → tunen

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

tune

(tjuːn) noun

musical notes put together in a particular (melodic and pleasing) order; a melody. He played a tune on the violin.

verb

1. to adjust (a musical instrument, or its strings etc) to the correct pitch. The orchestra tuned their instruments.

2. to adjust a radio so that it receives a particular station. The radio was tuned to a German station.

3. to adjust (an engine etc) so that it runs well.

ˈtuneful adjective

having a good, clear, pleasant etc tune. That song is very tuneful.

ˈtunefully adverb

ˈtunefulness noun

ˈtuneless adjective

without a good etc tune; unmusical. The child was singing in a tuneless voice.

ˈtunelessly adverb

ˈtunelessness noun

ˈtuner noun

1. (also piˈano-tuner) a person whose profession is tuning pianos.

2. the dial on a radio etc used to tune in to the different stations.

3. a radio which is part of a stereo system.

change one's tune

to change one's attitude, opinions etc.

in tune

1. (of a musical instrument) having been adjusted so as to give the correct pitches. Is the violin in tune with the piano?

2. (of a person's singing voice) at the same pitch as that of other voices or instruments. Someone in the choir isn't (singing) in tune.

out of tune

not in tune.

tune in

to tune a radio (to a particular station or programme). We usually tune (the radio) in to the news.

tune up

(of an orchestra etc) to tune instruments.

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