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modulate

- 6 dictionary results

mod⋅u⋅late

  [moj-uh-leyt] verb, -lat⋅ed, -lat⋅ing.
Use modulate in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to regulate by or adjust to a certain measure or proportion; soften; tone down.
2. to alter or adapt (the voice) according to the circumstances, one's listener, etc.
3. Music.
a. to attune to a certain pitch or key.
b. to vary the volume of (tone).
4. Telecommunications. to cause the amplitude, frequency, phase, or intensity of (a carrier wave) to vary in accordance with a sound wave or other signal, the frequency of the signal wave usually being very much lower than that of the carrier.
–verb (used without object)
5. Telecommunications.
a. to modulate a carrier wave.
b. Citizens Band Radio Slang. to talk; visit: Enjoyed modulating with you.
6. Music. to pass from one key to another: to modulate abruptly from A to B flat.
Origin:
1550–60; < L modulātus (ptp. of modulārī to regulate (sounds), set to music, play an instrument). See module, -ate 1

Related forms:
mod⋅u⋅la⋅bil⋅i⋅ty  [moj-uh-luh-bil-i-tee] , noun
mod⋅u⋅la⋅tive, mod⋅u⋅la⋅to⋅ry  [moj-uh-luh-tawr-ee, -tohr-ee] , adjective

Synonyms:
2. temper, control.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To modulate
mod·u·late   (mŏj'ə-lāt')   
v.   mod·u·lat·ed, mod·u·lat·ing, mod·u·lates

v.   tr.
  1. To adjust or adapt to a certain proportion; regulate or temper.
  2. To change or vary the pitch, intensity, or tone of (one's voice or a musical instrument, for example).
  3. Electronics
    1. To vary the frequency, amplitude, phase, or other characteristic of (electromagnetic waves).
    2. To vary (electron velocity) in an electron beam.
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, -tōr'ē) adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Modulate

Mod"u*late\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Modulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Modulating.] [L. modulatus, p. p. of modulari to measure, to modulate, fr. modulus a small measure, meter, melody, dim. of modus. See Mode.]

1. To form, as sound, to a certain key, or to a certain portion.

2. To vary or inflect in a natural, customary, or musical manner; as, the organs of speech modulate the voice in reading or speaking.

Could any person so modulate her voice as to deceive so many? --Broome.

Modulate

Mod"u*late\, v. i. (Mus.) To pass from one key into another.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Main Entry: mod·u·late
Pronunciation: 'mäj-&-"lAt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: -lat·ed; -lat·ing
: to adjust to or keep in proper measure or proportion <modulate an immune response> <modulate cell activity> —mod·u·la·to·ry /-l&-"tOr-E, -"tor-/ adjective
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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modulate   (mŏj'ə-lāt')  Pronunciation Key 
To vary the amplitude, frequency, or some other characteristic of a signal or power source. See also amplitude modulation, frequency modulation.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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