tune-up

[toon-uhp, tyoon-] /ˈtunˌʌp, ˈtyun-/
noun
1.
an adjustment, as of a motor, to improve working order or condition:
The car needs a tune-up badly.
2.
Informal. a preparatory activity or warm-up, as before a contest or game:
The track meet served as a tune-up for the Olympics.
Origin
1945-50; noun use of verb phrase tune up

tune

[toon, tyoon] /tun, tyun/
noun
1.
a succession of musical sounds forming an air or melody, with or without the harmony accompanying it.
2.
a musical setting of a hymn, poem, psalm, etc., usually in four-part harmony.
3.
the state of being in the proper pitch:
to be in tune.
4.
agreement in pitch; unison; harmony.
5.
proper adjustment, as of radio instruments or circuits with respect to frequency.
6.
harmonious relationship; accord; agreement.
7.
Archaic. frame of mind; mood.
8.
Obsolete. a tone or sound.
verb (used with object), tuned, tuning.
9.
to adjust (a musical instrument) to a correct or given standard of pitch (often followed by up).
10.
to adapt (the voice, song, etc.) to a particular tone, to the expression of a particular feeling, or the like.
11.
to bring (someone or something) into harmony.
12.
to adjust (a motor, mechanism, or the like) for proper functioning.
13.
Radio and Television.
  1. to adjust (a circuit, frequency, or the like) so as to bring it into resonance with another circuit, a given frequency, or the like.
  2. to adjust (a receiving apparatus) so as to make it compatible in frequency with a transmitting apparatus whose signals are to be received.
  3. to adjust (a receiving apparatus) so as to receive the signals of a particular transmitting station.
14.
to put into or cause to be in a receptive condition, mood, etc.; bring into harmony or agreement.
15.
Archaic.
  1. to utter, sound, or express musically.
  2. to play upon (a lyre).
verb (used without object), tuned, tuning.
16.
to put a musical instrument in tune (often followed by up).
17.
to give forth a musical sound.
18.
to be in harmony or accord; become responsive.
Verb phrases
19.
tune in, to adjust a radio or television set so as to receive (signals, a particular station, etc.).
20.
tune out,
  1. to adjust a radio or television set so as to stop or avoid receiving (a station or channel).
  2. Slang. to stop paying attention to a person, situation, etc.
21.
tune up,
  1. to cause a group of musical instruments to be brought to the same pitch.
  2. to begin to sing.
  3. to bring into proper operating order, as a motor:
    Before starting on our trip we should have the car tuned up.
Idioms
22.
call the tune, to decide matters of policy; control:
He was technically running the business, but his father still called the tune.
23.
change one's tune, to reverse one's views; change one's mind:
She changed her tune about children when she married and had her own.
24.
sing a different tune, to be forced to change one's ways, attitude, behavior, etc.:
He will sing a different tune when he has to earn his own money.
25.
to the tune of, Informal. in or about the amount of:
In order to expand, they will need capital to the tune of six million dollars.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English (noun); unexplained variant of tone
Related forms
mistune, verb, mistuned, mistuning.
nontuned, adjective
retune, verb (used with object), retuned, retuning.
undertune, noun
undertune, verb (used with object), undertuned, undertuning.
untuned, adjective
well-tuned, adjective
Synonyms
14. harmonize, balance. 17. chime.
British Dictionary definitions for tune up

tune up

verb (adverb)
1.
to adjust (a musical instrument) to a particular pitch, esp a standard one
2.
(esp of an orchestra or other instrumental ensemble) to tune (instruments) to a common pitch
3.
(transitive) to adjust (an engine) in (a car, etc) to improve performance
noun
4.
adjustments made to an engine to improve its performance

tune

/tjuːn/
noun
1.
a melody, esp one for which harmony is not essential
2.
the most important part in a musical texture: the cello has the tune at that point
3.
the condition of producing accurately pitched notes, intervals, etc (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune): he can't sing in tune
4.
accurate correspondence of pitch and intonation between instruments (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune): the violin is not in tune with the piano
5.
the correct adjustment of a radio, television, or some other electronic circuit with respect to the required frequency (esp in the phrases in tune, out of tune)
6.
a frame of mind; disposition or mood
7.
(obsolete) a musical sound; note
8.
call the tune, to be in control of the proceedings
9.
change one's tune, sing another tune, sing another a different tune, to alter one's attitude or tone of speech
10.
(informal) to the tune of, to the amount or extent of: costs to the tune of a hundred pounds
verb
11.
to adjust (a musical instrument or a changeable part of one) to a certain pitch
12.
to adjust (a note, etc) so as to bring it into harmony or concord
13.
(transitive) to adapt or adjust (oneself); attune: to tune oneself to a slower life
14.
(transitive) often foll by up. to make fine adjustments to (an engine, machine, etc) to obtain optimum performance
15.
(electronics) to adjust (one or more circuits) for resonance at a desired frequency
16.
(obsolete) to utter (something) musically or in the form of a melody; sing
17.
(South African, slang) tune someone grief, to annoy or harass someone
See also tune in, tune out, tune up
Word Origin
C14: variant of tone
Word Origin and History for tune up
v.

"bring to a state of effectiveness," 1718, in reference to musical instruments, from tune (v.) + up. Attested from 1901 in reference to engines. Tune-up (n.) "event that serves as practice for a later one" is a U.S. sporting coinage first attested 1934.

tune

n.

late 14c., "a musical sound, a succession of musical notes," unexplained variant of tone. Meaning "state of being in proper pitch" is from mid-15c.

v.

"bring into a state of proper pitch," c.1500, from tune (n.). Non-musical meaning "to adjust an organ or receiver" is recorded from 1887. Verbal phrase tune in in reference to radio (later also TV) is recorded from 1913; figurative sense of "become aware" is recorded from 1926. Tune out "to eliminate radio reception" is recorded from 1908; figurative sense of "disregard, stop heeding" is from 1928. Related: Tuned; tuning.

Slang definitions & phrases for tune up

tune up

verb phrase

To bring something, esp a car motor, to its best state of effectiveness; tinker with to improve: tuning up for the race at Santa Ana

[1901+; fr the process of tuning a musical instrument, suggested by the fact that the performance of motors can be gauged by their sound]


tune

Related Terms

fine-tune, loony-tune, to the tune of


Idioms and Phrases with tune up

tune up

Adjust machinery so it is in proper condition, as in I took the car in to be tuned up. [ Early 1900s ]

tune

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