mod·u·late [ mójjə làyt ](past and past participlemod·u·lat·ed, present participlemod·u·lat·ing, 3rd person present singularmod·u·lates)
verb
Definition:
1. transitive verb change sound: to change the tone, pitch, or volume of sound, e.g. of a musical instrument or the human voice
2. transitive verb alter something: to make alterations in something to make it less strong, forceful, or severe
3. transitive and intransitive verb music change key: in tonal music, to change from one key to another through a harmonic progression, or change one key into another
4. transitive verb physics vary wave characteristics: to vary the frequency, amplitude, or other characteristics of a radio wave or another carrier wave in order to transmit information
[Mid-16th century. < Latin modulat-, past participle of modulari "measure, adjust to rhythm" < modulus (see modulus)]
