tune

Everyday

1. A tune is a series of musical notes that makes a song or melody you can remember and hum. tree →
2. To tune an instrument is to adjust it so its notes are at the right pitch. tree →
3. To tune a radio or TV is to set it to a channel or station. tree →
4. «In tune» means singing or playing the right notes; «out of tune» means the notes are wrong. tree →
5. To tune an engine or machine is to adjust it so it works well. tree →

In the lessons

In music lessons pupils learn tunes, sing in tune, and tune guitars and violins. In science lessons on sound, tuning changes the tension of a string, and so its pitch. In everyday life «tune in» means switch on to watch or listen, and «stay tuned» means keep watching. Phrases: «in tune», «out of tune», «tune in», «stay tuned», «change your tune», «to the tune of».

Examples

• She hummed a happy tune. tree →
• The piano is out of tune. tree →
• We tuned the guitar before the concert. tree →
• Tune in to the radio at nine. tree →
• Stay tuned for more after the break. tree →
• The class sang in tune. tree →
• He changed his tune when he saw the prize. tree →
• And the harp played a merry tune. tree →

Note

Plural: tunes. Past: tuned. «Change your tune» = change your opinion. «In tune with» also means understanding someone well. A tuning fork is a tool that makes one exact note.