mod ‧ i ‧ fy AC /ˈmɒdəfaɪ, ˈmɒdɪfaɪ $ ˈmɑː-/ BrE AmE verb ( past tense and past participle modified , present participle modifying , third person singular modifies ) [transitive]
[ Word Family: verb : ↑ modify ; noun : ↑ modification ; adjective : modified ≠ UNMODIFIED ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: French ; Origin: modifier , from Latin modificare 'to measure, moderate' , from modus ; ⇨ ↑ mode ]
1 . to make small changes to something in order to improve it and make it more suitable or effective SYN adapt :
The feedback will be used to modify the course for next year.
The regulations can only be modified by a special committee.
modify something to do something
The seats can be modified to fit other types of vehicle.
2 . technical if an adjective, adverb etc modifies another word, it describes something or limits the word’s meaning. In the phrase ‘walk slowly’, the adverb ‘slowly’ modifies the verb ‘walk’.
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THESAURUS
■ to change something
▪ change to make someone or something different:
Unfortunately, there’s nothing we can do to change the situation.
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Being at college has changed her – she’s much more confident now.
▪ alter especially written tochange something so that it is better or more suitable:
You can alter the colour and size of the image using a remote control.
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Can we alter the date of the meeting?
▪ adapt to change something slightly in order to improve it or make it more suitable:
How much would it cost to adapt the existing equipment?
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You can adapt the recipe to suit your own requirements.
▪ adjust to make small changes in the position or level of something in order to improve it or make it more suitable:
How do you adjust the volume on the television?
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He adjusted his tie in the mirror.
▪ modify especially written to make small changes to something such as a piece of equipment, a set of ideas, or a way of behaving in order to improve it or use it in a different way:
He’s modified his opinions since then.
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a modified version of the original program.
▪ reform to change a law, system, organization etc so that it is fairer or more effective:
plans to reform the tax system
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Health care needs to be completely reformed.
▪ revise to change a plan, idea, law etc because of new information and ideas:
In July, China revised the rules for foreign investment.
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The findings could force the scientists to revise their ideas about climate change.
▪ reorganize to change the way that a system or organization works:
We’ve had to reorganize our database
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During the 1980s, the government reorganized the civil service.
▪ restructure to make big changes to the way something is organized, especially a large political or economic system or a big company, in order to make it more effective:
The company has been restructured from top to bottom.