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Tune vs Alter - What's the difference?

tune | alter |

As a noun tune

is a melody.

As a verb tune

is to modify a musical instrument so that it produces the correct pitches.

As an adjective alter is

.

tune

English

(wikipedia tune)

Noun

(en noun)
  • A melody.
  • A song, or short musical composition.
  • (informal) The act of tuning or maintenance.
  • Your engine needs a good tune .
  • The state or condition of being correctly tuned.
  • Your engine is now in tune .
    This piano is not in tune .
  • (UK, slang) A very good song.
  • You heard the new Rizzle Kicks song? —Mate, that is a tune !
  • (obsolete) A sound; a note; a tone.
  • * Shakespeare
  • the tune of your voices
  • (obsolete) Order; harmony; concord.
  • * John Locke
  • A child will learn three times as much when he is in tune , as when he is dragged unwillingly to [his task].

    Derived terms

    * change one's tune * in tune * out of tune * to the tune of * carry a tune

    Verb

    (tun)
  • To modify a musical instrument so that it produces the correct pitches.
  • to tune a piano or a violin
  • * Dryden
  • Tune your harps.
  • To adjust a mechanical, electric or electronic device (such as a radio or a car engine) so that it functions optimally.
  • To make more precise, intense, or effective; to put into a proper state or disposition.
  • (Shakespeare)
  • To give tone to; to attune; to adapt in style of music; to make harmonious.
  • * Milton
  • For now to sorrow must I tune my song.
  • To sing with melody or harmony.
  • * Milton
  • Fountains, and ye, that warble, as ye flow, / Melodious murmurs, warbling tune his praise.
  • (South Africa, slang, transitive) To cheek; to be impudent towards.
  • Are you tuning me?

    Derived terms

    * fine-tune * stay tuned * tune in * * tuner * tune out * tune up

    Anagrams

    * ----

    alter

    English

    Alternative forms

    * altre (obsolete)

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To change the form or structure of.
  • * Bible, Psalms lxxxix. 34
  • My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips.
  • * Shakespeare
  • No power in Venice can alter a decree.
  • * Alexander Pope
  • It gilds all objects, but it alters none.
  • To become different.
  • To tailor clothes to make them fit.
  • To castrate, neuter or spay (a dog or other animal).
  • (obsolete) To agitate; to affect mentally.
  • (Milton)

    Derived terms

    * alterer * alterability * alterative * alterable * alterably

    Anagrams

    * * * * * ----