What does tune mean?
A tune is a melody, usually a short one that can be readily recognized or repeated. The word also functions as a verb: to tune an instrument, voice, or receiver is to adjust it to the correct pitch or frequency, while to tune a person or plan is to bring it into agreement or harmony with a standard. In conversation, people may describe a performance as in tune or out of tune, referring to the accuracy of its pitch. The expression change one’s tune is figurative and means changing an attitude or opinion, often unexpectedly or because of pressure. Tune is a practical word in music and technology, but it also has a broader metaphorical use for adjustment and reconciliation. Its history links it to tone and related words, reflecting the idea of sound, pitch, and musical character.
A short musical melody or song, especially one that is easily remembered; in figurative use, a particular manner or attitude.
"That old song is a tune everyone seems to know."
The figurative sense occurs especially in idioms such as ‘change one’s tune’.
To adjust an instrument, voice, or device to the correct pitch or frequency; to bring something into agreement or harmony with a standard or another thing.
"The technician tuned the radio to the local station."
The verb is transitive when it describes adjusting an instrument or receiver and can also be used figuratively for bringing people or plans into agreement.
The standard plural of the noun is ‘tunes.’
"The musicians performed several tunes from different traditions."
A tune can be remembered long after the words are forgotten, which is why some melodies seem to stay with us forever.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does tune come from?
The word developed in Middle English from an Anglo-French form related to French ton, meaning sound or pitch, which came from Latin tonus. Latin tonus was borrowed from Greek tonos, a word associated with stretching, tension, and pitch. The related English word tone and the musical term tonic share this Greek and Latin heritage.
Related word forms
How tune is actually used
The word is neutral and widely used in British and American English. In musical contexts, ‘in tune’ means correctly pitched, while ‘out of tune’ describes incorrect pitch. ‘Change one’s tune’ is an idiomatic expression meaning to alter one’s opinion or approach, often because of circumstances or pressure.
Easily confused with tune
A tone is a particular quality or pitch of sound, whereas a tune is a sequence of musical notes forming a melody.