tune
tyoon
Tune (noun) means a short, memorable melody or piece of music. Example: “The band played a lively tune and everyone began to dance.”
noun
1
A short, memorable melody or piece of music.
"The band played a lively tune and everyone began to dance."
"She hummed the tune all afternoon without realizing it."
"The advertising jingle had a catchy tune."
verb
1
To adjust an instrument, engine, or device so it works or sounds correctly.
"Please tune the guitar before we start the song."
"The pianist asked a technician to tune the piano before the concert."
"He spent the weekend tuning up his old motorcycle."
2
To adjust a radio or TV to receive a particular signal or channel.
"She tuned the television to the news channel before dinner."
"We tuned in to the football match on the car radio."
"Tune your radio to 101.5 for the traffic update."
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.
Common mistake
"Change one's tune" is an idiom meaning to suddenly switch opinion — it has nothing to do with music.
Common pairings
tune a guitar
tune in
catchy tune
change one's tune
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Word forms
- Plural
- tunes
- Third person singular
- tunes
- Past tense
- tuned
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The band played a lively _____ and everyone began to dance.
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.
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