modulate

mod·u·late

 (mŏj′ə-lāt′)

v. mod·u·lat·ed, mod·u·lat·ing, mod·u·lates

v.tr.

1. To regulate or adjust to a certain degree: physiological mechanisms that modulate the body's metabolic rate.

2. To change or vary the pitch, intensity, or tone of (one's voice or a musical instrument, for example).

3. Electronics

a. To vary the frequency, amplitude, phase, or other characteristic of (electromagnetic waves).

b. To vary (electron velocity) in an electron beam.

4. Biochemistry To act on (a receptor, for example) as an activator, an inhibitor, or both.

v.intr. Music

To move from one key or tonality to another by means of a melody or chord progression.

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[Latin modulārī, modulāt-, to measure off, to regulate, from modulus, diminutive of modus, measure; see med- in Indo-European roots.]

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mod′u·la·bil′i·ty n.

mod′u·la′tive, mod′u·la·to′ry (-lə-tôr′ē) adj.

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.

modulate

(ˈmɒdjʊˌleɪt)

vb

1. (tr) to change the tone, pitch, or volume of

2. (tr) to adjust or regulate the degree of

3. (Music, other) music

a. to subject to or undergo modulation in music

b. (often foll by to) to make or become in tune (with a pitch, key, etc)

4. (Electrical Engineering) (tr) physics electronics to cause to vary by a process of modulation

5. (General Physics) (tr) physics electronics to cause to vary by a process of modulation

[C16: from Latin modulātus in due measure, melodious, from modulārī to regulate, from modus measure]

modulability n

ˈmodulative, ˈmodulatory adj

ˈmoduˌlator n

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

mod•u•late

(ˈmɒdʒ əˌleɪt)

v. -lat•ed, -lat•ing. v.t.

1. to regulate by or adjust to a certain measure or proportion.

2. to alter or adapt (the voice) according to the circumstances, one's listener, etc.

3. to cause the amplitude, frequency, phase, or intensity of (a carrier wave) to vary in accordance with a sound wave or other signal.

v.i.

4. to modulate a carrier wave.

5. to move harmonically from one key to a related key.

[1550–60; < Latin modulātus, past participle of modulārī to regulate (sounds). See module, -ate¹]

mod`u•la•bil′i•ty (-ləˈbɪl ɪ ti) n.

mod′u•la`tive, mod′u•la•to`ry (-ˌtɔr i, -ˌtoʊr i) adj.

mod′u•la`tor, n.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

mod·u·late

(mŏj′ə-lāt′)

To vary the amplitude, frequency, or some other characteristic of electromagnetic waves in a way that makes them correspond to a signal or to information that is to be transmitted.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

modulate

Past participle: modulated
Gerund: modulating

Imperative

modulate

modulate

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Verb	1.	modulate - change the key of, in music; "modulate the melody" music - musical activity (singing or whistling etc.); "his music was his central interest" spiel, play - replay (as a melody); "Play it again, Sam"; "She played the third movement very beautifully"
	2.	modulate - vary the pitch of one's speech inflect, tone mouth, speak, talk, verbalise, verbalize, utter - express in speech; "She talks a lot of nonsense"; "This depressed patient does not verbalize"
	3.	modulate - fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of; "regulate the temperature"; "modulate the pitch" regulate 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"
	4.	modulate - adjust the pitch, tone, or volume of 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"
	5.	modulate - vary the frequency, amplitude, phase, or other characteristic of (electromagnetic waves) vary, alter, change - become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's or its former characteristics or essence; "her mood changes in accordance with the weather"; "The supermarket's selection of vegetables varies according to the season"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

modulate

verb adjust, balance, vary, tone, tune, regulate, harmonize, inflect, attune He carefully modulated his voice.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

modulieren

modular

moduler

modularemodulazioneregolare

modular

modulate

[ˈmɒdjʊleɪt] VT (Mus, Phys) → modular

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

modulate

[ˈmɒdʒʊleɪt] vt

[+ voice, tone] → moduler

[+ activity, process] → moduler

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

modulate

(Mus, Rad)

vi → modulieren; the key modulated from major to minor → die Tonart wechselte von Dur nach Moll

vt → modulieren

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

modulate

[ˈmɒdjʊˌleɪt] vt → modulare

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995