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.
[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) 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 |
| Present |
|---|
| I modulate |
| you modulate |
| he/she/it modulates |
| we modulate |
| you modulate |
| they modulate |
| Preterite |
|---|
| I modulated |
| you modulated |
| he/she/it modulated |
| we modulated |
| you modulated |
| they modulated |
| Present Continuous |
|---|
| I am modulating |
| you are modulating |
| he/she/it is modulating |
| we are modulating |
| you are modulating |
| they are modulating |
| Present Perfect |
|---|
| I have modulated |
| you have modulated |
| he/she/it has modulated |
| we have modulated |
| you have modulated |
| they have modulated |
| Past Continuous |
|---|
| I was modulating |
| you were modulating |
| he/she/it was modulating |
| we were modulating |
| you were modulating |
| they were modulating |
| Past Perfect |
|---|
| I had modulated |
| you had modulated |
| he/she/it had modulated |
| we had modulated |
| you had modulated |
| they had modulated |
| Future |
|---|
| I will modulate |
| you will modulate |
| he/she/it will modulate |
| we will modulate |
| you will modulate |
| they will modulate |
| Future Perfect |
|---|
| I will have modulated |
| you will have modulated |
| he/she/it will have modulated |
| we will have modulated |
| you will have modulated |
| they will have modulated |
| Future Continuous |
|---|
| I will be modulating |
| you will be modulating |
| he/she/it will be modulating |
| we will be modulating |
| you will be modulating |
| they will be modulating |
| Present Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I have been modulating |
| you have been modulating |
| he/she/it has been modulating |
| we have been modulating |
| you have been modulating |
| they have been modulating |
| Future Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I will have been modulating |
| you will have been modulating |
| he/she/it will have been modulating |
| we will have been modulating |
| you will have been modulating |
| they will have been modulating |
| Past Perfect Continuous |
|---|
| I had been modulating |
| you had been modulating |
| he/she/it had been modulating |
| we had been modulating |
| you had been modulating |
| they had been modulating |
| Conditional |
|---|
| I would modulate |
| you would modulate |
| he/she/it would modulate |
| we would modulate |
| you would modulate |
| they would modulate |
| Past Conditional |
|---|
| I would have modulated |
| you would have modulated |
| he/she/it would have modulated |
| we would have modulated |
| you would have modulated |
| they would have modulated |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
| 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 | |
| 3. |  modulate - fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of; "regulate the temperature"; "modulate the pitch"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
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002