Tune: meaning, definitions and examples

Refers to a series of musical notes that are played or sung in a particular order to create music. Typically used when speaking about a piece of music without words or a specific pleasing set of notes.

• She hummed a cheerful tune as she walked down the street
• The guitarist was strumming a familiar tune

A sequence of musical notes that are perceived as a single entity, often the most memorable part of a piece of music. Usually associated with the main theme in music pieces.

• The melody of the song is very catchy
• She played the melody on the piano

A piece of music that has lyrics and is meant to be sung. Commonly used when talking about complete musical compositions including verses, choruses, and bridges.

• I love that new song on the radio
• She wrote a song for her best friend

The combination of different musical notes played or sung simultaneously to produce a pleasing sound. Often used in the context of music composition and choral singing.

• The choir's harmony was perfect during the performance
• Guitar and piano together create beautiful harmony

Commonly used in informal conversation to mean making small adjustments to something for better performance or accuracy.

• I need to tune my bike's brakes
• She tunes her exercise routine regularly

Use in a general sense to make minor changes to improve accuracy or function.

• You need to adjust the seat height for better comfort
• He adjusted the brightness on his computer screen

Use when making precise adjustments for optimal performance, often in a technical or artistic context.

• The engineer spent hours fine-tuning the machine
• She fine-tuned the presentation to address all key points

Commonly used in a technical or scientific context to set or correct measuring instruments.

• The lab technician needs to calibrate the equipment
• It's essential to calibrate the scale before use