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tune out

 - 6 dictionary results
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tune

  [toon, tyoon] noun, verb, tuned, tun⋅ing.
Use tune out in a Sentence
–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. proper adjustment, as of radio instruments or circuits with respect to frequency.
6. harmonious relationship; accord; agreement.
7. Archaic. frame of mind; mood.
8. Obsolete. a tone or sound.
–verb (used with object)
9. to adjust (a musical instrument) to a correct or given standard of pitch (often fol. 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. Radio 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. Archaic.
a. to utter, sound, or express musically.
b. to play upon (a lyre).
–verb (used without object)
16. to put a musical instrument in tune (often fol. by up).
17. to give forth a musical sound.
18. to be in harmony or accord; become responsive.
—Verb phrases
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. tune 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.
—Idioms
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.
Origin:
1350–1400; ME (n.); unexplained var. of tone

Synonyms:
14. harmonize, balance. 17. chime.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Tunes Out
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tune   (tōōn, tyōōn)   
n.  

  1. Music

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

    2. A song.

    3. Correct pitch.

    4. The state of being properly adjusted for pitch: a piano out of tune.

    5. Agreement in pitch: play in tune with the piano.

    6. Obsolete A musical tone.

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

    8. Archaic Frame of mind; disposition.

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

    2. 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.

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

    2. Archaic To utter musically; sing.

    3. To adjust (a receiver) to a desired frequency.

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

  2. To adopt or adjust, especially in order to bring into harmony.

  3. Electronics

    1. To adjust (a receiver) to a desired frequency.

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

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

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).

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

  4. Slang

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

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

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

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

  7. To prepare (oneself) for a specified activity.

Phrasal Verb(s):
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

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

    2. 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 (oneself) for a specified activity.


Idiom(s):
to the tune ofTo the sum or extent of: produced profits to the tune of $10 million.

[Middle English, variant of tone, tone; see tone.]
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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Slang Dictionary
tune out

  1. in.
    to begin to ignore everything. : The entire class had tuned out, so no one heard the teacher ask the question.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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tune (so/sth) out

  1. tv.
    to ignore or disregard someone or something. : I managed to tune out the constant clamor in the streets.
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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Word Origin & History

tune  (n.)
1387, "a musical sound, a succession of musical notes," unexplained variant of tone. Meaning "state of being in proper pitch" is from 1440; the verb in this sense is recorded from 1505. Non-musical meaning "to adjust an organ or receiver" is recorded from 1887. Verbal phrase tune in in ref. to radio (later also TV) is recorded from 1913; fig. 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.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Idioms & Phrases

tune out

  1. Adjust a receiver so as not to receive a signal, as in Let's tune out all this interference. [Early 1900s]

  2. Dissociate oneself from one's surroundings; also, disregard, ignore. For example, The average reader, used to seeing lots of color images, tunes out when confronted with big blocks of text, or Some mothers are expert at tuning out the children's whining and quarreling. [1920s] For an antonym, see tune in.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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