modulation
Other forms: modulations
Modulation is when you control or adjust something, like when you lower your voice to a loud whisper in order to make what you're saying more dramatic and mysterious.
The noun modulation has several meanings, including a change of key in music or of the sound of a person's voice. It almost always involves some kind of deliberate modification or slight change, like an actor adjusting his pitch or volume depending on the role he's playing or the mood of the scene. The Latin root, modulationem, has a musical meaning: "rhythm, singing and playing, or melody."
-
the act of modifying or adjusting according to due measure and proportion (as with regard to artistic effect)
-
a manner of speaking in which the loudness, pitch, or tone of the voice is modifiedsynonyms: inflectiontype of:delivery, manner of speaking, speechyour characteristic style or manner of expressing yourself orally
-
rise and fall of the voice pitchsynonyms: cadence, intonation, pitch contourtypes:intonation patternintonations characteristic of questions and requests and statementssingsonga regular and monotonous rising and falling intonationtype of:
-
a musical passage moving from one key to anothersynonyms: transition
-
(electronics) the transmission of a signal by using it to vary a carrier wave; changing the carrier's amplitude or frequency or phasetypes:pulse modulationmodulation that imposes a signal on a train of pulsespulse-time modulationmodulation of the time between successive pulsestype of:transmissioncommunication by means of transmitted signals
- MLA
- APA
- Chicago
Vocabulary lists containing modulation
In this play inspired by the Greek myth of Pygmalion, Professor Henry Higgins bets that he can transform Eliza Doolittle, a poor flower seller, into a cultured and genteel lady.
An unflinching look at the brutality of the American slave trade, Draper's novel tells the story of Amari, a young African girl who is enslaved.
In 29 essays, physician, etymologist, poet, educator, and researcher Lewis Thomas covers a range of topics to illustrate his theme that all living things, including the Earth itself, are interconnected and interdependent.