Tune — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈtün/

Meaning & Definition of Tune

Tune (noun)

  1. a pleasing succession of musical tones, melody
  2. a dominant theme
  3. correct musical pitch or consonance —used chiefly in the phrases in tune and out of tune

Tune (verb)

  1. to adjust in musical pitch or cause to be in tune
  2. to bring into harmony, attune
  3. to adjust for precise functioning —often used with up

Tune (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a rhythmic series of musical tones arranged to give a pleasing effect

    "hummed a little tune while I sorted the laundry"

    similar: air, lay, melody, song, strain, warble
    related: descant, cadence, measure, meter, rhythm, ballad, ditty, hymn, lyric, madrigal

  2. a state of consistency

    "your negative assessment of the restaurant seems to be in tune with the opinions of the critics"

    similar: accord, accordance, agreement, conformance, conformity, congruence, congruency, congruity, consonance, harmony
    related: compatibility, assimilation, integration, oneness, solidarity, togetherness, affinity, empathy, sympathy
    opposite: conflict, disagreement, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness
    near: contrast, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, diverseness, diversity, unlikeness, deviance, divergence, discord, discordance, dissension, dissent, dissidence, disunity, friction, strife, variability, variance, incompatibility

  3. an approximate amount, extent, or degree

    "retail rents on the fashionable street can run to the tune of $100,000 a year"

    similar: matter, neighborhood, vicinity
    related: ballpark, nearness, proximity

Tune (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in adapt

    similar: adapt, accommodate, attune, conciliate, conform, coordinate, harmonize, key, reconcile, blend, combine, connect, correlate, dovetail, fit, fuse, integrate, join, match, merge, orchestrate, pair, square, suit, synchronize, synthesize, unify, unite, align, arrange, array, balance, equalize, even, order, proportion, regularize, standardize
    opposite: disharmonize, confuse, disarray, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, skew, upset, alienate, estrange

Related Entry: Tune out (verb)

Tune out is a different word from Tune. The synonyms below are for tune out, not for tune.

  1. as in ignore, pass over

    similar: blow off, brush (off), disregard, flout, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, wink (at), disobey, rebel, dismiss, pooh-pooh, scorn, shrug off, breach, break, contravene, fracture, infringe (on or upon), offend, traduce, transgress, violate, defy, resist, withstand
    opposite: comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey, observe, defer (to), serve, submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to), attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, watch

Related Entry: Fine-tune (verb)

Fine-tune is a different word from Tune. The synonyms below are for fine-tune, not for tune.

  1. to make small changes to (something) in order to improve the way it works or to make it exactly right

    "fine-tune a TV set"

    "fine-tune the temperature of the room"

    "They're fine-tuning interest rates to achieve economic growth without inflation."

    similar: fiddle (with), phase, register, regulate, rig, acclimate, acclimatize, accommodate, adapt, adjust, condition, conform, doctor, edit, fashion, fit, put, shape, suit, tailor, readapt, readjust, customize, gear, match, model, pattern, attune, correct, harmonize, square, tune, establish, root, settle, acquaint, familiarize, orient, orientate, equip, prepare, prime, rehearse, harden, inure, season, toughen, alter, convert, make over, modify, recast, reclaim, recycle, redesign, redevelop, redo, reengineer, refashion, refigure, refit, refocus, reinvent, rejigger, remake, remodel, revamp, revise, rework, transform, accustom, habilitate, habituate, naturalize, ready, bend
    opposite: misadjust

Related Entry: Call the tune (for) (phrase)

Call the tune (for) is a different word from Tune. The synonyms below are for call the tune (for), not for tune.

  1. to be in charge of

    "She made it clear that she would call the tune for the investigation."

    similar: boss, captain, handle, head, overlook, oversee, quarterback, superintend, supervise, call the shots (of), ride herd on, watch over
    related: administer, command, control, direct, guide, manage, order, run, shepherd, show, steer, monitor, preside (over), govern, reign, rule

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Tune

The most common words with a similar meaning to Tune:

air, lay, melody, song, strain, warble, accord, accordance, agreement, conformance, conformity, congruence, congruency, congruity, consonance, harmony, matter, neighborhood, vicinity, adapt, accommodate, attune, conciliate, conform, coordinate, harmonize, key, reconcile, blend, combine, connect, correlate, dovetail, fit, fuse, integrate, join, match, merge, orchestrate

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Tune

Words with the opposite meaning of Tune:

conflict, disagreement, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, disharmonize, confuse, disarray, disorder, disorganize, disrupt, disturb, skew, upset, alienate, estrange

Related Words for Tune

descant, cadence, measure, meter, rhythm, ballad, ditty, hymn, lyric, madrigal, compatibility, assimilation, integration, oneness, solidarity, togetherness, affinity, empathy, sympathy, ballpark, nearness, proximity

Near Antonyms of Tune

contrast, discrepancy, disparateness, disparity, dissimilarity, distinction, distinctiveness, distinctness, diverseness, diversity, unlikeness, deviance, divergence, discord, discordance, dissension, dissent, dissidence, disunity, friction, strife, variability, variance, incompatibility

Word Forms of Tune

Inflections: tuned, tuning

Origin & Etymology of Tune

Middle English tune, tuin, tewne "musical sound, melody, key of a musical composition," borrowed from Anglo-French tun, ton, tuen tone:1

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Tune

Words & Phrases Containing Tune

tune in, tune out, tune-up, auto-tune, call the tune, fine-tune, change one's tune, dance to someone's tune

Frequently Asked Questions about Tune

What does "Tune" mean?

"Tune" means a pleasing succession of musical tones, melody. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a pleasing succession of musical tones, melody. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Tune"?

Other words for "Tune" include air, lay, melody, song, strain, warble, accord and accordance. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Tune" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Tune"?

There are 79 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Tune". Common alternatives include air, lay, melody, song, strain, warble, accord, accordance, agreement and conformance.

What is the opposite of "Tune"?

Antonyms of "Tune" include conflict, disagreement, incongruence, incongruity, incongruousness, disharmonize, confuse and disarray. Near antonyms include contrast, discrepancy, disparateness and disparity.

How do you use "Tune" in a sentence?

Examples of "Tune" in a sentence: "hummed a little tune while I sorted the laundry"; "your negative assessment of the restaurant seems to be in tune with the opinions of the critics"; "retail rents on the fashionable street can run to the tune of $100,000 a year".

Is "Tune" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Tune" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Tune" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Tune" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Tune"?

"Tune" is pronounced /ˈtün/.