modulation

Noun

modulation (countable and uncountable, plural modulations)

1. (uncountable) Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.
   • More ouer the emperours that were moſte noble⸝ delited in daunſyng⸝ perceyuing ther in to be a perfecte meaſure⸝ which maye be called modulation: wherin ſome daunſers of olde tyme ſo wonderfully excelled⸝ that they wolde plainly expreſſe in daunſynge⸝ without any wordes or dittie⸝ hiſtories with...1531, Thomas Elyot, “Of the Firste Begynnyng of Daunsing and the Old Estimation therof”, in The Boke Named the Governour […], London: […] Tho[mas] Bertheleti, →OCLC, 1st boke, folio 79, verso
   • Theſe [minerals] have not yet been vvell reduced, or the number of the ſimple original ones rightly fixt; ſome, vvhich are only Compounds, the Matter of tvvo or more kinds being mix'd together, and, by the different Proportion and Modulation of that Matter, variouſly diſguiſed and diverſifyed...1695, John Woodward, “Part IV. Of the Origin and Formation of Metalls and Minerals.”, in An Essay toward a Natural History of the Earth: And Terrestrial Bodies, Especially Minerals: […], London: […]...
   1. (uncountable) Variation (especially softening or toning down) of brightness, form, etc.; (countable) an instance of this.
      • […] I ſhall endeavour to point out and regularly deſcribe a certain order and arrangement in their [shades or shadows'] appearance, in vvhich order vve may conceive different kinds of ſoftnings and modulations of the rays of light vvhich are ſaid to fall upon the eye from every object it ſees, and...1753, William Hogarth, “Of Light and Shade, and the Manner in which Objects are Explained to the Eye by Them”, in The Analysis of Beauty. […], London: […] J[ohn] Reeves for the author, […], →OCLC...
   2. (uncountable) Variation in the activity or form of a cell in response to changes in the environment; (countable) an instance of this.
   3. (uncountable) Chiefly preceded by a descriptive word: modification of an electromagnetic wave or other oscillating carrier wave to apply a signal to it; (countable) an instance of this; also, the extent to which such a wave is modified; and the modified wave or signal.
      • Modulation is the process in which information is encoded in radio signals. Modulation describes changing an aspect of the wave. There are two main types of radio modulation: amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM). […] In amplitude modulation the height (amplitude) of the wave is...2022, Elizabeth Rubio, “Transmitting and Receiving Radio Waves”, in Understanding and Using Radio Waves (The Electromagnetic Spectrum), New York, N.Y.: Enslow Publishing, →ISBN, page 22
   4. (uncountable) Variation of the intensity, pitch, and tone of the sound of a musical instrument or voice; inflection; (countable) an instance of this.
      • [A]lthough the vveazon, throtle and tongue [of birds] be the inſtruments of voice, and by their agitations doe chiefly concurre unto theſe delightfull modulations, yet cannot vve aſſigne the cauſe unto any particular formation; […]1646, Thomas Browne, “Of the Wish of Philoxenus [of Leucas]”, in Pseudodoxia Epidemica: […], London: […] T[homas] H[arper] for Edward Dod, […], →OCLC, 7th book, page 368
      • The Rings of the VVind-pipe, are fitted for the Modulation of the Voice.1701, Nehemiah Grew, “Of the Use of Organized Bodies”, in Cosmologia Sacra: Or A Discourse of the Universe as It is the Creature and Kingdom of God. […], London: […] W[illiam] Rogers, S[amuel] Smith...
   5. (uncountable) Changing of the key in a piece of music; also, the effect achieved by this as an element of harmony; (countable) an instance of this.
      • More interesting still the modulations, not merely from one key to another, but from mood to mood. A theme is stated, then developed, pushed out of shape, imperceptibly deformed, until, though still recognizably the same, it has become quite different.1928, Aldous Huxley, “XXII: From Philip Quarles’s Notebook”, in Point Counter Point, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC, page 408
   6. (uncountable) The quality of a typeface of having contrasting, thick and thin parts of the strokes; stroke-width variation.
      • Garamond has much modulation, while Helvetica has very little.
2. (uncountable) Changing of a thing from one form to another; (countable) an instance of this.
3. (obsolete, uncountable) Harmonious use of language in poetry or prose.
   • Then begin the arts of rhetoric and poetry, the regulation of figures, the ſelection of vvords, the modulation of periods, the graces of tranſition, the complication of cauſes, and all the delicacies of ſtyle, and ſubtilties of compoſition, uſeful vvhile they advance perſpicuity, and laudable...1759 June 30, [Samuel Johnson], “The Idler. No. 64.”, in The Universal Chronicle, or Weekly Gazette, volume II, number 65, London: […] R. Stevens, […], →OCLC, page 201, column 2
4. (obsolete, rare, uncountable) Modification of the parts of a classical Greek or Roman building to achieve appropriate proportions by measuring in modules (“standard units of measure, usually the diameter or radius of a column at the base of a shaft”).
   • About Theatres, ſaith He [Vitruvius], are Porticoes, and VValks, vvhich appear ought to be ſo placed, as they muſt be double. And have the outvvard Columns Dorick vvith Architraves, and Ornaments made from the rule of the Dorick modulation.1665, John Webb, A Vindication of Stone-Heng Restored: […], London: […] R[alph] Davenport for Tho[mas] Bassett, […], →OCLC, page 62
5. (countable, obsolete) Any of the musical notes in ecclesiastical modes of music on which a melodic phrase had to begin and end.
6. (obsolete, uncountable) Arrangement or composition, or performance, of music in a certain key or mode; also (countable) a series of musical notes, chord, or tune analyzed according to a key or mode.
7. (obsolete, uncountable) Making music or singing; (countable) a melody, a tune; also (chiefly in the plural), a musical note.
   • I will sing of thy mercy and judgment, says David; when we fix ourselves upon the meditation and modulation of the mercy of God, even his judgments cannot put us out of tune, but we shall sing and be cheerful even in them.1625 January 4 (date delivered; Gregorian calendar), John Donne, “Sermon II. Preached in the Evening of Christmas-Day, 1624.”, in Henry Alford, editor, The Works of John Donne, D.D., […], volume I...
   • Join'd to Theſe [birds], / Thouſands beſide, thick as the covering Leaves / VVhich ſpeck them o'er, their Modulations mix / Mellifluous.1728, [James] Thomson, Spring. A Poem, […] A[ndrew] Millar, […]; and G[eorge] Strahan, […], →OCLC, pages 30–31