modulation

Noun
Synonyms: transitionintonationpitch contourinflection

WordNet 3.0

Noun (5)

  1. a musical passage moving from one key to anotherSynonyms: transition
  2. (electronics) the transmission of a signal by using it to vary a carrier wave; changing the carrier's amplitude or frequency or phase
  3. rise and fall of the voice pitchSynonyms: intonationpitch contour
  4. a manner of speaking in which the loudness or pitch or tone of the voice is modifiedSynonyms: inflection
  5. the act of modifying or adjusting according to due measure and proportion (as with regard to artistic effect)
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Modulation \Mod`u*la"tion\, n. [L. modulatio: cf. F. modulation.]

1.The act of modulating, or the state of being modulated; as, the modulation of the voice. [1913 Webster]

2.Sound modulated; melody. [R.] --Thomson. [1913 Webster]

3.(Mus.) A change of key, whether transient, or until the music becomes established in the new key; a shifting of the tonality of a piece, so that the harmonies all center upon a new keynote or tonic; the art of transition out of the original key into one nearly related, and so on, it may be, by successive changes, into a key quite remote. There are also sudden and unprepared modulations. [1913 Webster]

4.(Electronics) The alteration of hte amplitude, intensity, frequency, or phase (of the carrier wave of a radio signal) at intervals, so as to represent information to be transmitted. [WordNet 1.5]

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