tune
tune — noun
1. a short sequence of notes that combine into a pleasant, recognizable piece of mu
a short sequence of notes that combine into a pleasant, recognizable piece of music, usually without words.
Jiwoo hummed a cheerful tune while walking to school this morning.
collocation: hum a tune
The piano teacher asked Dahlia to play that same tune once more.
collocation: play a tune
An old folk tune came on the radio, and Imani smiled at the memory.
Esteban could not get that pop tune out of his head all day.
collocation: get a tune out of your head
- hum a tune
- play a tune
- whistle a tune
- catchy tune
- folk tune
- pop tune
Usage Note
A tune is typically shorter and simpler than a full song; it focuses on the melody rather than lyrics.
Common Mistakes
2. the situation where musicians hit the correct notes, producing a pleasant combin
the situation where musicians hit the correct notes, producing a pleasant combined sound that fits together well.
The choir sang perfectly in tune, filling the hall with beautiful sound.
phrase: in tune
Élise checked that her violin was in tune before the concert began.
All the guitars need to be in tune for the band to sound good.
phrase: in tune
The viola was not in tune with the piano, so the duet sounded strange.
phrase: in tune with
- in tune
- keep in tune
- stay in tune
- sing in tune
- pitch
the specific frequency of a note, not the state of correctness
Grammar Patterns
in tune
in tune with + noun
Usage Note
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'in tune' or 'in tune with'; does not normally appear bare.
Common Mistakes
3. the situation where musicians hit the wrong notes, making the sound unpleasant o
the situation where musicians hit the wrong notes, making the sound unpleasant or mismatched with others.
One of the piano keys was out of tune, so Asher called a repair person.
phrase: out of tune
Zuri knew she was out of tune when the choir director stopped and frowned.
That old upright piano sounds terribly out of tune after years of use.
phrase: out of tune
The lead singer was completely out of tune with the band during the second song.
phrase: out of tune with
- out of tune
- go out of tune
- sound out of tune
Grammar Patterns
out of tune
out of tune with + noun
Usage Note
Almost always used in the fixed phrase 'out of tune' or 'out of tune with'; the opposite of sense 2.
4. a state of agreement or harmony between people's perspectives, attitudes, or sha
a state of agreement or harmony between people's perspectives, attitudes, or shared interests; found in the fixed expression 'in tune with' and its opposite.
Tanvi felt completely in tune with her new team's approach to the project.
phrase: in tune with (figurative)
The mayor's speech was out of tune with what the community really needed.
Heather's values are in tune with the charity's mission to help the poor.
phrase: in tune with (figurative)
Defne felt out of tune with the fashion trends her classmates followed.
phrase: out of tune with (figurative)
- in tune with
- out of tune with
- conflict
direct opposition rather than mere difference
Grammar Patterns
in tune with + noun
out of tune with + noun
Usage Note
Frequently used in business or social contexts to describe alignment of opinions or goals. Distinguish from senses 2-3, which are literal musical meanings.
5. used before a specified sum of money to emphasize that the amount is surprisingl
used before a specified sum of money to emphasize that the amount is surprisingly large.
The university received donations to the tune of two million dollars this year.
phrase: to the tune of + large sum
Repairing the old bridge will cost taxpayers to the tune of three million.
Sari's company lost money to the tune of half a million in the first quarter.
phrase: to the tune of
The city spent to the tune of one hundred thousand on the new park benches.
- to the tune of
- amounting to
neutral, without the emphatic tone
Grammar Patterns
to the tune of + amount
Usage Note
Always used in the fixed expression 'to the tune of' followed by a specific monetary figure. The tone is often one of surprise or disapproval at the size of the amount.
Common Mistakes
6. a service in which a mechanic checks and adjusts a vehicle's engine so that it r
a service in which a mechanic checks and adjusts a vehicle's engine so that it runs smoothly and efficiently.
Dahlia took her car to the garage for a tune-up before the long trip.
collocation: get a tune-up
A regular tune-up can help your engine run smoothly for many years.
The mechanic said the car needed a full tune-up including new spark plugs.
collocation: need a tune-up
After the tune-up, Daniel noticed the engine started much more quietly.
- tune-up
- get a tune-up
- need a tune-up
- service
broader term covering all routine maintenance, not just engine adjustment
Usage Note
Often written as 'tune-up' (with a hyphen). More common in American English; British English often uses 'service' instead.
tune in
phrasal verbto adjust a radio, television, or other device so that it receives a particular station or programme.
Millions of viewers tuned in to watch the final match live on Saturday night.
tune out
phrasal verbto stop paying attention to something, especially intentionally because you find it boring or unimportant.
Asher tuned out the teacher's lecture about ancient history and drew in his notebook.
change your tune
idiomto change your opinion or attitude about something, especially after previously holding a different view.
Esteban used to hate the idea of moving abroad, but he changed his tune after visiting Barcelona.
call the tune
idiomto be the person who makes the decisions and controls a situation.
The senior partner may own the firm, but the junior partners are the ones who really call the tune.
to do whatever someone tells you to do, often because you have no choice or want to please them.
The small suppliers had to dance to the big retailer's tune or lose all their business.
to express a different opinion or change your attitude about something, usually because your situation has changed.
The boss was against flexible hours until she tried them herself — now she sings a different tune.
be in/out of tune
idiomWhen someone sings or plays music, they produce the correct or incorrect musical notes.
Maya practiced every day so she could sing in tune.
The old piano is out of tune and sounds terrible.
To agree or disagree with someone or something, or to share or not share the same opinions or feelings.
Diego's ideas are in tune with the company's goals.
The new policy is out of tune with what employees want.
call the shots/tune
idiomTo be the person who makes the decisions and controls what happens.
In this project, Sara calls the shots.
Who calls the tune in your department?
To always do what someone else tells you to do, without questioning.
Brian always dances to his boss's tune.
She refuses to dance to anyone's tune.
The person who provides the money for something has the right to control how it is used.
The investor funded the startup, so he who pays the piper calls the tune.
In business, he who pays the piper calls the tune.
To behave or think in a way that is different from most other people.
Aiden marches to a different drummer and doesn't follow trends.
She marches to a different tune, always doing things her own way.
Used to emphasize a large amount of money that something costs.
The company lost money to the tune of two million dollars.
They renovated the house to the tune of fifty thousand dollars.
tune — verb
1. to alter the tension on the strings or adjust the interior parts on a guitar, pi
to alter the tension on the strings or adjust the interior parts on a guitar, piano, or other instrument, making each note ring at its intended pitch.
Daniel spent the afternoon tuning his guitar before the evening performance.
collocation: tune a guitar
The entire orchestra had to tune their instruments before the conductor arrived.
Jiwoo tuned the strings of her ukulele until each note sounded perfectly clear.
collocation: tune + instrument
The piano tuner came every six months to tune the old upright piano.
- tune a guitar
- tune a violin
- tune a piano
- tune an instrument
- adjust
more general; not specific to musical pitch
- detune
to deliberately make an instrument out of tune
Grammar Patterns
tune + object
Usage Note
String instruments (guitar, violin, piano) need regular tuning. Some instruments, like the piano, require a professional tuner.
2. to change the settings of a radio set or TV, enabling it to pick up broadcasts f
to change the settings of a radio set or TV, enabling it to pick up broadcasts from a chosen broadcaster or channel.
Sari tuned the radio to a station playing classical music during dinner.
pattern: tune [device] to [station]
Defne tuned in to the news channel every morning before leaving for work.
phrasal: tune in to
Asher tuned the television to the football match just before kickoff.
The old radio could only tune stations clearly if the antenna was fully extended.
pattern: tune + object (device)
- tune the radio
- tune the television
- tune in to
- tune to a station
- adjust
more general; not specific to radio or TV frequency
Grammar Patterns
tune + object + to + station
tune in + to + station
Usage Note
Often used with the phrasal verb 'tune in' or 'tune into.' The object can be the device ('tune the radio') or omitted ('tune in to a station').
Common Mistakes
3. to make small adjustments to a vehicle's engine or mechanical parts so that it r
to make small adjustments to a vehicle's engine or mechanical parts so that it runs at maximum efficiency and power.
The mechanic tuned the engine carefully to improve the car's fuel efficiency.
collocation: tune an engine
After tuning the motorcycle, Zuri noticed it accelerated much more smoothly.
The racing team tuned every part of the engine before the big competition.
collocation: tune an engine
Heather took her classic car to a specialist who tuned vintage engines for a living.
- tune an engine
- tune a car
- tune a motorcycle
- tune for performance
- calibrate
more technical; used for precise scientific or mechanical adjustments
Grammar Patterns
tune + object
Usage Note
Often used in the context of car maintenance or performance racing. The related noun form is 'tune-up' (sense 6 of the noun).
Word family
- tunefuladjectiveB2
- tunelessadjectiveC1
- tunernounB1
- tuningnounB1
- untunedadjectiveC1
- tunableadjectiveC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
All three words refer to something you hear in music, but they differ in scope. 'Tune' is the simplest, most everyday word for a pleasant series of notes — you hum a tune, not a melody, in casual conversation. 'Melody' is more technical and refers specifically to the main line of notes in a piece of music; musicians talk about a melody being catchy or complex. 'Song' is the broadest term — it includes both the tune and the lyrics (words). You whistle a tune, you analyse a melody, and you sing a song. In everyday use, 'tune' and 'melody' can overlap when referring to instrumental music, but 'song' always implies the presence of sung words. For example: 'That piano tune is beautiful' focuses on the notes; 'That piano song is beautiful' sounds odd unless someone is actually singing along.
Common collocations
Nouns
- guitar
- piano
- violin
- engine
- radio
- television
Adverbs
- carefully
- perfectly
- badly
- finely
Phrases
- in tune
- out of tune
- to the tune of
- in tune with
- out of tune with
Prepositions
- in
- out of
- to
Etymology
The word 'tune' entered English in the 1300s from Old French 'ton' meaning 'a sound' or 'a tone.' This goes back to Latin 'tonus' (a sound produced by a string under tension) and further to Greek 'tonos' (a stretching, a taut string, a pitch). Originally spelled 'tone' in Middle English, the spelling 'tune' emerged in the 1500s and became standard. The figurative use meaning 'agreement' (in tune with) dates to the 1700s, extended from the musical idea of instruments producing harmonious sounds together.