/ ˈmɒdjuleɪt; NAmE ˈmɑːdʒə-/ verb
1.
[ vn ] ( formal ) to change the quality of your voice in order to create a particular effect by making it louder, softer, lower, etc.
2.
[ v ] modulate (from sth) (to / into sth) ( music ) to change from one musical key (= set of notes) to another
3.
[ vn ] ( technical ) to affect sth so that it becomes more regular, slower, etc. :
drugs that effectively modulate the disease process
4.
[ vn ] ( technical ) to change the rate at which a sound wave or radio signal vibrates (= the frequency ) so that it is clearer
► modu·la·tion / ˌmɒdjuˈleɪʃn; NAmE ˌmɑːdʒəˈl-/ noun [ U , C ]
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 16th cent. (in the sense intone a song ): from Latin modulat- measured, made melody, from the verb modulari , from modulus measure, diminutive of modus .