mod·i·fy [ móddə f ](past and past participlemod·i·fied, present participlemod·i·fy·ing, 3rd person present singularmod·i·fies)
verb
Definition:
1. transitive and intransitive verb make small changes to something: to make a minor change or alteration to something, or change slightly, especially in order to improve
2. transitive verb lessen something: to make something less extensive, severe, or extreme
3. transitive verb grammar affect word's meaning: to affect the meaning of another word, usually by describing or limiting it
4. transitive verb phonetics change vowel sound: to change the sound of a vowel from its usual sound, often in a way that is represented in writing by adding an umlaut
[14th century. Via French modifier< Latin modificare "limit" < modus "measure" + form of facere "make"]