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modulate. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
modulate, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
modulate in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
modulate you have here. The definition of the word
modulate will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
modulate, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
From Latin modulor (“to measure, regulate, modulate”) + -ate (verb-forming suffix), from modulus (“measure”); see modulus. Compare module. By surface analysis, modul(e) + -ate.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈmɑː.d͡ʒəˌleɪt/, /ˈmɑ.djuˌleɪt/
Verb
modulate (third-person singular simple present modulates, present participle modulating, simple past and past participle modulated)
- (transitive) To regulate, adjust or adapt
- (transitive) To change the pitch, intensity or tone of one's voice or of a musical instrument
1980 April 19, Andrea Loewenstein, “Random Lust”, in Gay Community News, page 10:"Can you tell?" she asked, in a trembling but well modulated and sensual voice.
- (transitive, electronics) to vary the amplitude, frequency or phase of a carrier wave in proportion to the amplitude etc of a source wave (such as speech or music)
- (intransitive, music) to move from one key or tonality to another, especially by using a chord progression
Derived terms
Translations
to change the pitch (transitive)
to vary the amplitude etc.
to move from one key to another (intransitive)
Further reading
- “modulate”, in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: G. & C. Merriam, 1913, →OCLC.
- “modulate”, in The Century Dictionary , New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911, →OCLC.
Esperanto
Adverb
modulate
- present adverbial passive participle of moduli
Italian
Etymology 1
Verb
modulate
- inflection of modulare:
- second-person plural present indicative
- second-person plural imperative
Etymology 2
Participle
modulate f pl
- feminine plural of modulato
Latin
Participle
modulāte
- vocative masculine singular of modulātus
References
- “modulate”, in Charlton T. Lewis and Charles Short (1879) A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
- “modulate”, in Charlton T. Lewis (1891) An Elementary Latin Dictionary, New York: Harper & Brothers
- modulate in Gaffiot, Félix (1934) Dictionnaire illustré latin-français, Hachette.
Spanish
Verb
modulate
- second-person singular voseo imperative of modular combined with te