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noun
1.
an adjustment, as of a motor, to improve working order or condition: The car needs a tune-up badly.
2.
Informal. a preparatory activity or warm-up, as before a contest or game: The track meet served as a tune-up for the Olympics.
Origin:
1945–50; noun use of verb phrase tune up
1945–50; noun use of verb phrase tune up
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Tune up
is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
| a gadget; dingus; thingumbob. |
| a chattering or flighty, light-headed person. |
Dictionary.com Unabridged
noun
1.
a succession of musical sounds forming an air or melody, with or without the harmony accompanying it.
2.
a musical setting of a hymn, poem, psalm, etc., usually in four-part harmony.
3.
the state of being in the proper pitch: to be in tune.
4.
agreement in pitch; unison; harmony.
5.
EXPANDproper adjustment, as of radio instruments or circuits with respect to frequency.
verb (used with object)
9.
to adjust (a musical instrument) to a correct or given standard of pitch (often followed by up).
10.
to adapt (the voice, song, etc.) to a particular tone, to the expression of a particular feeling, or the like.
11.
to bring (someone or something) into harmony.
12.
to adjust (a motor, mechanism, or the like) for proper functioning.
13.
EXPANDRadio and Television.
a.
to adjust (a circuit, frequency, or the like) so as to bring it into resonance with another circuit, a given frequency, or the like.
b.
to adjust (a receiving apparatus) so as to make it compatible in frequency with a transmitting apparatus whose signals are to be received.
c.
to adjust (a receiving apparatus) so as to receive the signals of a particular transmitting station.
14.
to put into or cause to be in a receptive condition, mood, etc.; bring into harmony or agreement.
15.
COLLAPSEArchaic.
a.
to utter, sound, or express musically.
b.
to play upon (a lyre).
verb (used without object)
Verb phrases16.
to put a musical instrument in tune (often followed by up).
17.
to give forth a musical sound.
18.
to be in harmony or accord; become responsive.
19.
tune in, to adjust a radio or television set so as to receive (signals, a particular station, etc.).
20.
tune out,
a.
to adjust a radio or television set so as to stop or avoid receiving (a station or channel).
b.
Slang. to stop paying attention to a person, situation, etc.
21.
Idiomstune up,
a.
to cause a group of musical instruments to be brought to the same pitch.
b.
to begin to sing.
c.
to bring into proper operating order, as a motor: Before starting on our trip we should have the car tuned up.
22.
call the tune, to decide matters of policy; control: He was technically running the business, but his father still called the tune.
23.
change one's tune, to reverse one's views; change one's mind: She changed her tune about children when she married and had her own.
24.
sing a different tune, to be forced to change one's ways, attitude, behavior, etc.: He will sing a different tune when he has to earn his own money.
25.
to the tune of, Informal. in or about the amount of: In order to expand, they will need capital to the tune of six million dollars.
Related forms
mis·tune, verb, mis·tuned, mis·tun·ing.
non·tuned, adjective
re·tune, verb (used with object), re·tuned, re·tun·ing.
un·der·tune, noun
un·der·tune, verb (used with object), un·der·tuned, un·der·tun·ing.
EXPANDSynonyms
14. harmonize, balance. 17. chime.
14. harmonize, balance. 17. chime.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
Cite This Source
|
Link To tune up
Collins
World English Dictionary
| tune up | |
| —vb | |
| 1. | to adjust (a musical instrument) to a particular pitch, esp a standard one |
| 2. | (esp of an orchestra or other instrumental ensemble) to tune (instruments) to a common pitch |
| 3. | (tr) to adjust (an engine) in (a car, etc) to improve performance |
| —n | |
| 4. | adjustments made to an engine to improve its performance |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
tune
late 14c., "a musical sound, a succession of musical notes," unexplained variant of tone. Meaning "state of being in proper pitch" is from mid-15c.; the verb in this sense is recorded from c.1500. Non-musical meaning "to adjust an organ or receiver" is recorded from 1887. Verbal
EXPANDphrase tune in in reference to radio (later also TV) is recorded from 1913; figurative sense of "become aware" is recorded from 1926. Tune out "to eliminate radio reception" is recorded from 1908; fig. sense of "disregard, stop heeding" is from 1928. Tunesmith is a U.S. colloquial coinage first recorded 1926.
tune up
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases
tune up
Adjust machinery so it is in proper condition, as in I took the car in to be tuned up. [Early 1900s]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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