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Glite Dictionary
🔊 To adjust sound 📡 To change signal 🎶 To change key
to modulate

to modulate

9 6.7
Change the pitch and volume of voice or music
  • verb
  • /ˈmɒdʒʊleɪt/
translation icon : modular
  • The speaker had to modulate his voice to ensure everyone could hear him clearly.
  • modulate voice
  • modulate emotions
  • modulate responses

I slow it down, concentrate on the line, elongate the loop and modulate it.

Examples

  • "Hey," I said, speaking in a low, modulated voice so I wouldn't scare her.

    Fiction book (1992)

  • Just can you modulate the sound just a little?

    Café Society (2016)

  • I got to modulate the volume!

    Hurlyburly (1998)

  • There were times that I wished that he could modulate his approach a little bit with a little bit less anger.

    Zappa (2020)

  • "Sitting here won't fill bellies either," she added in her well-modulated voice, an eyebrow raised.

    Fiction book (1990)

  • Terrestrial vegetation plays a crucial role in the water cycle. It modulates and sustains evapotranspiration and precipitation.

    Academic text (2010)

  • Musicians often modulate between keys to create dynamic changes in their songs.

  • In order to convey the right emotion, she learned to modulate her tone during the performance.

Synonyms

to regulate
vsto modulate
82 3.7

To control the amount, speed, or way something happens

adjust pitch and volume of sound or voice rather than general control
to tone
vsto modulate
39 5.3

To change the pitch of your voice to show feeling

adjust pitch and volume across voice and musical contexts
to inflect
vsto modulate
1 7.3

Change the sound of your voice to show feeling

adjust pitch tone or volume in voice or music more broadly

How Much

to transform
523 3.4
to alter
493 2.5
to modulate
9 6.7
to adjust
317 2.7
tweak
28 3.9
to maintain
931 3.1

Surface Forms

modulate infinitive
modulated past
modulated past participle
modulating present participle
modulates third person singular

Morphology

modulate = modul + ate

Formed from the combining form 'modul-' + the verb-forming suffix '-ate'; the combining form is not a standalone common English word, so learners who know related words (e.g., 'modulation' or 'mode') may infer 'adjust/change', but the morphological pieces are not fully transparent to an average B1 learner.

Etymology

The word modulate comes from the Latin root modus, meaning 'measure' or 'manner', and is related to mode and moderate. Think of it like turning a volume dial to 'measure out' your voice or music, so to modulate is to adjust pitch, tone, or volume.