/moj'euh lay"sheuhn, mod'yeuh-/ , n.
1. the act of modulating.
2. the state of being modulated.
3. Music. transition from one key to another.
4. Gram.
a. the use of a particular distribution of stress or pitch in a construction, as the use of rising pitch on here in John is here?
b. the feature of a construction resulting from such use.
[ 1350-1400; ME modulation- (s. of modulatio ) rhythmical measure. See MODULATE, -ION ]