tune
Tune (noun) means a short, memorable melody or piece of music. Example: “She hummed the tune all afternoon without realizing it.”
How to Use Tune
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe melody of a piece of music, or the act of adjusting something (an instrument, engine, or radio) so it performs correctly.
"Change one's tune" is an idiom meaning to suddenly switch opinion — it has nothing to do with music.
Word Forms
tuned past tense, tunes plural, Tunes plural, tunes singular
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
She hummed the _____ all afternoon without realizing it.
Etymology
From Middle English tune, a variant of "tone," ultimately from Latin tonus and Greek tonos.
Related Words
Rhymes for tune
See all rhymes for tune →Frequently Asked Questions
What does “tune” mean?
The word “tune” means a short, memorable melody or piece of music. In plain terms, the melody of a piece of music, or the act of adjusting something (an instrument, engine, or radio) so it performs correctly.
How do you pronounce “tune”?
“Tune” is pronounced tyoon (/tjuːn/ in IPA).
How do you use “tune” in a sentence?
Here is “tune” used in a sentence: “She hummed the tune all afternoon without realizing it.”
What part of speech is “tune”?
Depending on how it is used, “tune” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “tune” come from?
The word “tune” comes from Latin. From Middle English tune, a variant of "tone," ultimately from Latin tonus and Greek tonos.
Is “tune” a common word?
“Tune” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “tune” have?
“Tune” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a short, memorable melody or piece of music.
What is the difference between a "tune" and a "song"?
A tune is the melody itself — the sequence of musical notes — while a song usually includes both a tune and lyrics. You can hum or whistle a tune, but a song is typically sung with words.
What is the difference between "tune up" and "tune in"?
"Tune up" means to adjust an instrument, engine, or device so it works or sounds correctly, while "tune in" means to set a radio or television to a particular station or to start paying attention. They share the base word but describe very different actions.