Word Direct Answers

What does "tune" mean?

Tune: (Mus.) (a) A rhythmical, melodious, symmetrical series of tones for one voice or instrument, or for any number of voices or instruments in unison, or two or more such series forming parts in harmony; a melody; an air; as, a merry tune; a mournful tune; a slow tune; a psalm tune. See Air. (b) The state of giving the proper, sound or sounds; just intonation; harmonious accordance; pitch of the voice or an instrument; adjustment of the parts of an instrument so as to harmonize with itself or with others; as, the piano, or the organ, is not in tune. Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh. Shak.

Additional senses

  1. 2.Order; harmony; concord; fit disposition, temper, or humor; right mood. A child will learn three times as much when he is in tune, as when he . . . is dragged unwillingly to [his task]. Locke.
  2. 3.To put into a state adapted to produce the proper sounds; to harmonize, to cause to be in tune; to correct the tone of; as, to tune a piano or a violin. " Tune your harps." Dryden.
  3. 4.To give tone to; to attune; to adapt in style of music; to make harmonious. For now to sorrow must I tune my song. Milton.
  4. 5.To sing with melody or harmony. Fountains, and ye, that warble, as ye flow, Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise. Milton.
  5. 6.To put into a proper state or disposition. Shak.
  6. 7.To form one sound to another; to form accordant musical sounds. Whilst tuning to the water's fall, The small birds sang to her. Drayton.
  7. 8.To utter inarticulate harmony with the voice; to sing without pronouncing words; to hum. [R.]

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