tune
UK: tjuːn | US: tuːn
n. a musical sound or series of sounds with a pleasing melody
n. the correct musical pitch or accuracy of sound
vt. to adjust an instrument or sound to the correct pitch
vt. to adjust or optimize something for better performance
tune = tun<sound, tone> + e (silent)
- tun (from Old English tūn "sound, tone," related to Old Norse tūn and German Ton)
- e (silent letter, no semantic function; added in Middle English for spelling conventions)
Etymology Origin:
The word "tune" traces back to Old English tūn, meaning "sound" or "tone," likely influenced by Old Norse and Germanic roots. Over time, it evolved to specifically denote musical pitch or melody. The silent "e" was added in Middle English, a common orthographic practice to indicate vowel length or distinguish word forms. The core idea of "adjusting sound" expanded metaphorically to include optimizing systems (e.g., "tuning an engine").
She hummed a cheerful tune while working.
The piano needs to be tuned before the concert.
He tuned the radio to his favorite station.
The mechanic tuned the car for better fuel efficiency.
The violinist played a familiar tune from memory.