mod|u|late

mod|u|late «MOJ u layt», verb, -lat|ed, -lat|ing.

–v.t.

1. to regulate or adjust; tone down; soften.

2. to alter (the voice) in pitch, tone, or volume for expression; inflect: »

He had a really noble voice which he could modulate with great skill (Alexander Kinglake).

3. Music. a) to attune (as sounds) to a certain pitch or key. b) to cause to change from one key or note to another.

4. to vary the frequency of (electromagnetic waves): »

A lightbeam modulated at a frequency of 8.2 megacycles per second (Science News).

5. Radio. to cause (a carrier wave) to vary by adding sound waves to it in accordance with the signal being sent, the effect of one sound wave being spread over a considerable number of oscillations of the carrier wave.

6. to intone (as a prayer or response); sing softly.

–v.i.

1. to undergo modulation.

2. Music. to change from one key to another, according to the laws of harmony.

3. to vary electrical waves by producing oscillations.

4. to produce modulation in a radio carrier wave.

╂[< Latin modulārī (with English -ate¹) < modulus small measure (diminutive) < modus measure]