'Modulate' definitions:

Definition of 'modulate'

From: WordNet
verb
Change the key of, in music; "modulate the melody"
verb
Vary the pitch of one's speech [syn: tone, inflect, modulate]
verb
Fix or adjust the time, amount, degree, or rate of; "regulate the temperature"; "modulate the pitch" [syn: regulate, modulate]
verb
Adjust the pitch, tone, or volume of
verb
Vary the frequency, amplitude, phase, or other characteristic of (electromagnetic waves)

Definition of 'Modulate'

From: GCIDE
  • Modulate \Mod"u*late\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Modulated; p. pr. & vb. n. Modulating.] [L. modulatus, p. p. of modulari to measure, to modulate, fr. modulus a small measure, meter, melody, dim. of modus. See Mode.]
  • 1. To form, as sound, to a certain key, or to a certain portion. [1913 Webster]
  • 2. To vary or inflect in a natural, customary, or musical manner; as, the organs of speech modulate the voice in reading or speaking. [1913 Webster]
  • Could any person so modulate her voice as to deceive so many? --Broome. [1913 Webster]
  • 3. (Electronics) To alter the amplitude, frequency, phase, or intensity of (the carrier wave of a radio signal) at intervals, so as to represent information to be conveyed by the signal; -- a technique used to convey information by means of radio waves transmitted by one electronic device and received by another. [WordNet 1.5]

Definition of 'Modulate'

From: GCIDE
  • Modulate \Mod"u*late\, v. i. (Mus.) To pass from one key into another. [1913 Webster]

Synonyms of 'modulate'

From: Moby Thesaurus