modulation

noun

1. (uncountable)Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.

   “More ouer the emperours that were moſte noble⸝ delited in daunſyng⸝ perceyuing ther in to be a perfecte meaſure⸝ which maye be called modulation: wherin ſome daunſers of olde tyme ſo wonderfully excelled⸝ that they wolde plainly expreſſe in daunſynge⸝ without any wordes or dittie⸝ hiſtories with the hole circumſtaunce of affaires⸝ in them cõtayned: […]”

   “Theſe [minerals] have not yet been vvell reduced, or the number of the ſimple original ones rightly fixt; ſome, vvhich are only Compounds, the Matter of tvvo or more kinds being mix'd together, and, by the different Proportion and Modulation of that Matter, variouſly diſguiſed and diverſifyed, having been reputed all different kinds of Minerals, and thereby the Number of them unneceſſarily multiplied.”

   “There was a touching modulation in these words about her father that Walter understood too well.”

2. (uncountable)Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.

   “[…] I ſhall endeavour to point out and regularly deſcribe a certain order and arrangement in their [shades or shadows'] appearance, in vvhich order vve may conceive different kinds of ſoftnings and modulations of the rays of light vvhich are ſaid to fall upon the eye from every object it ſees, and to cauſe thoſe more or leſs-pleaſing vibrations of the optic nerves, vvhich ſerve to inform the mind concerning every different ſhape or figure that preſents itſelf.”

3. (uncountable)Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.
4. (uncountable)Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.

   “Modulation is the process in which information is encoded in radio signals. Modulation describes changing an aspect of the wave. There are two main types of radio modulation: amplitude modulation (AM) and frequency modulation (FM). […] In amplitude modulation the height (amplitude) of the wave is changed. In frequency modulation, the number of waves that pass a given point in a second is changed.”

5. (uncountable)Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.

   “[A]lthough the vveazon, throtle and tongue [of birds] be the inſtruments of voice, and by their agitations doe chiefly concurre unto theſe delightfull modulations, yet cannot vve aſſigne the cauſe unto any particular formation; […]”

   “The Rings of the VVind-pipe, are fitted for the Modulation of the Voice.”

   “So much indeed vvas he faſcinated by the voice, that a moſt painful curioſity vvas excited as to her countenance, vvhich he fancied muſt expreſs all the ſenſibility of character that the modulation of her tones indicated.”

   “Hitherto the traveller had been chained to the spot against his will by the charm of Dinah's mellow treble tones, which had a variety of modulation like that of a fine instrument touched with the unconscious skill of musical instinct.”

6. (uncountable)Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.

   “More interesting still the modulations, not merely from one key to another, but from mood to mood. A theme is stated, then developed, pushed out of shape, imperceptibly deformed, until, though still recognizably the same, it has become quite different.”

7. (uncountable)Modification or regulation of something to achieve an appropriate measure or proportion; (countable) an instance of this.

   “Garamond has much modulation, while Helvetica has very little.”

8. (uncountable)Changing of a thing from one form to another; (countable) an instance of this.
9. (obsolete, uncountable)Harmonious use of language in poetry or prose.

   “Then begin the arts of rhetoric and poetry, the regulation of figures, the ſelection of vvords, the modulation of periods, the graces of tranſition, the complication of cauſes, and all the delicacies of ſtyle, and ſubtilties of compoſition, uſeful vvhile they advance perſpicuity, and laudable vvhile they increaſe pleaſure, but eaſy to be refined by needleſs ſcrupuloſity till they ſhall more embarraſs the vvriter than aſſiſt the reader or delight him.”

10. (obsolete, rare, uncountable)Modification of the parts of a classical Greek or Roman building to achieve appropriate proportions by measuring in modules (“standard units of measure, usually the diameter or radius of a column at the base of a shaft”).

    “About Theatres, ſaith He [Vitruvius], are Porticoes, and VValks, vvhich appear ought to be ſo placed, as they muſt be double. And have the outvvard Columns Dorick vvith Architraves, and Ornaments made from the rule of the Dorick modulation.”

11. (countable, obsolete)Any of the musical notes in ecclesiastical modes of music on which a melodic phrase had to begin and end.
12. (obsolete, uncountable)Arrangement or composition, or performance, of music in a certain key or mode; also (countable) a series of musical notes, chord, or tune analyzed according to a key or mode.
13. (obsolete, uncountable)Making music or singing; (countable) a melody, a tune; also (chiefly in the plural), a musical note.

    “I will sing of thy mercy and judgment, says David; when we fix ourselves upon the meditation and modulation of the mercy of God, even his judgments cannot put us out of tune, but we shall sing and be cheerful even in them.”

    “Join'd to Theſe [birds], / Thouſands beſide, thick as the covering Leaves / VVhich ſpeck them o'er, their Modulations mix / Mellifluous.”

    “Sleep during this interval was out of the question: […] the songs of Hoel and Cyveilioc, to ring to the profaner but more lively modulation of Voulez vous danser, Mademoiselle? [Do you want to dance, miss?] in conjunction with the symphonious scraping of fiddles, the tinkling of triangles, and the beating of tambourines.”