Word
modulate
Phoneticsmod·u·late, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmɔdʒjuɫeɪt/
UK/mˈɒdjʊlˌeɪt/
Definition
v. to change the way you speak or sing to make it more interesting. In electronics, it means changing a signal to carry information.
v. to vary the pitch, tone, or volume of a voice or musical instrument; in electronics, to impress a signal onto a carrier wave. Often used in the context of communication or signal processing.
Examples
“The singer learned to modulate her voice to sound more emotional.”
“The technician had to modulate the radio signal to ensure the data could be transmitted over long distances without interference.”
“By modulating the intensity of the light source, the researchers were able to create a series of pulses that corresponded to the binary code of the transmitted data.”
Examples
simple
“The singer learned to modulate her voice to sound more emotional.”
contextual
“The technician had to modulate the radio signal to ensure the data could be transmitted over long distances without interference.”
complex
“By modulating the intensity of the light source, the researchers were able to create a series of pulses that corresponded to the binary code of the transmitted data.”
Real-World Examples
“It’s not till the fourth or fifth performance that he modulates the delivery of the lyrics, putting a suddenly funny spin on the singer’s relationship to the story the song tells.” “In this approach, the researchers gently shook the entire chain by modulating the lasers at a chosen frequency, then measured how strongly the atoms responded.” Etymology
From Latin modulor (“to measure, regulate, modulate”) + -ate (verb-forming suffix), from modulus (“measure”); see modulus. Compare module. By surface analysis, modul(e) + -ate.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/modulate