tune-up

[ toon-uhp, tyoon- ]

/ ˈtunˌʌp, ˈtyun- /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR tune-up ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

an adjustment, as of a motor, to improve working order or condition: The car needs a tune-up badly.

Informal. a preparatory activity or warm-up, as before a contest or game: The track meet served as a tune-up for the Olympics.

Origin of tune-up

First recorded in 1945–50; noun use of verb phrase tune up

Words nearby tune-up

tundra swan, tune, tune in, tune out, tune up, tune-up, tuneful, tuneless, tuner, tunesmith, tung oil

Definition for tune up (2 of 2)

tune

[ toon, tyoon ]

/ tun, tyun /

noun

a succession of musical sounds forming an air or melody, with or without the harmony accompanying it.

a musical setting of a hymn, poem, psalm, etc., usually in four-part harmony.

the state of being in the proper pitch: to be in tune.

agreement in pitch; unison; harmony.

proper adjustment, as of radio instruments or circuits with respect to frequency.

harmonious relationship; accord; agreement.

Archaic. frame of mind; mood.

Obsolete. a tone or sound.

verb (used with object), tuned, tun·ing.

to adjust (a musical instrument) to a correct or given standard of pitch (often followed by up).

to adapt (the voice, song, etc.) to a particular tone, to the expression of a particular feeling, or the like.

to bring (someone or something) into harmony.

to adjust (a motor, mechanism, or the like) for proper functioning.

Radio and Television.

to adjust (a circuit, frequency, or the like) so as to bring it into resonance with another circuit, a given frequency, or the like.
to adjust (a receiving apparatus) so as to make it compatible in frequency with a transmitting apparatus whose signals are to be received.
to adjust (a receiving apparatus) so as to receive the signals of a particular transmitting station.

to put into or cause to be in a receptive condition, mood, etc.; bring into harmony or agreement.

Archaic.

to utter, sound, or express musically.
to play upon (a lyre).

verb (used without object), tuned, tun·ing.

to put a musical instrument in tune (often followed by up).

to give forth a musical sound.

to be in harmony or accord; become responsive.

Verb Phrases

tune in, to adjust a radio or television set so as to receive (signals, a particular station, etc.).

tune out,

to adjust a radio or television set so as to stop or avoid receiving (a station or channel).
Slang. to stop paying attention to a person, situation, etc.

tune up,

to cause a group of musical instruments to be brought to the same pitch.
to begin to sing.
to bring into proper operating order, as a motor: Before starting on our trip we should have the car tuned up.

Origin of tune

1350–1400; Middle English (noun); unexplained variant of tone

SYNONYMS FOR tune

14 harmonize, balance.

17 chime.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR tune ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM tune

mis·tune, verb, mis·tuned, mis·tun·ing. non·tuned, adjective re·tune, verb (used with object), re·tuned, re·tun·ing. un·der·tune, noun

un·der·tune, verb (used with object), un·der·tuned, un·der·tun·ing. un·tuned, adjective well-tuned, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for tune up (1 of 2)

tune up

verb (adverb)

to adjust (a musical instrument) to a particular pitch, esp a standard one

(esp of an orchestra or other instrumental ensemble) to tune (instruments) to a common pitch

(tr) to adjust (an engine) in (a car, etc) to improve performance

noun tune-up

adjustments made to an engine to improve its performance

British Dictionary definitions for tune up (2 of 2)

tune

/ (tjuːn) /

noun

a melody, esp one for which harmony is not essential

the most important part in a musical texture the cello has the tune at that point

the condition of producing accurately pitched notes, intervals, etc (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune) he can't sing in tune

accurate correspondence of pitch and intonation between instruments (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune) the violin is not in tune with the piano

the correct adjustment of a radio, television, or some other electronic circuit with respect to the required frequency (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune)

a frame of mind; disposition or mood

obsolete a musical sound; note

call the tune to be in control of the proceedings

change one's tune, sing another tune or sing another a different tune to alter one's attitude or tone of speech

to the tune of informal to the amount or extent of costs to the tune of a hundred pounds

verb

to adjust (a musical instrument or a changeable part of one) to a certain pitch

to adjust (a note, etc) so as to bring it into harmony or concord

(tr) to adapt or adjust (oneself); attune to tune oneself to a slower life

(tr often foll by up) to make fine adjustments to (an engine, machine, etc) to obtain optimum performance

electronics to adjust (one or more circuits) for resonance at a desired frequency

obsolete to utter (something) musically or in the form of a melody; sing

tune someone grief Southern African slang to annoy or harass someone

Word Origin for tune

C14: variant of tone

Idioms and Phrases with tune up (1 of 2)

tune up

Adjust machinery so it is in proper condition, as in I took the car in to be tuned up. [Early 1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with tune up (2 of 2)

tune

In addition to the idioms beginning with tune

tune in
tune out
tune up

also see:

call the tune
carry a tune
change one's tune
dance to another tune
in tune
to the tune of

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tune-up

noun

Origin of tune-up

Words nearby tune-up

Definition for tune up (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object), tuned, tun·ing.

verb (used without object), tuned, tun·ing.

Verb Phrases

Origin of tune

SYNONYMS FOR tune

OTHER WORDS FROM tune

British Dictionary definitions for tune up (1 of 2)

verb (adverb)

noun tune-up

British Dictionary definitions for tune up (2 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for tune

Idioms and Phrases with tune up (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with tune up (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

tune-up

noun

Origin of tune-up

Words nearby tune-up

Definition for tune up (2 of 2)

noun

verb (used with object), tuned, tun·ing.

verb (used without object), tuned, tun·ing.

Verb Phrases

Origin of tune

SYNONYMS FOR tune

OTHER WORDS FROM tune

Words related to tune up

British Dictionary definitions for tune up (1 of 2)

verb (adverb)

noun tune-up

British Dictionary definitions for tune up (2 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for tune

Idioms and Phrases with tune up (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with tune up (2 of 2)