MODULATION

modulation

(noun) the act of modifying or adjusting according to due measure and proportion (as with regard to artistic effect)

modulation

(noun) (electronics) the transmission of a signal by using it to vary a carrier wave; changing the carrier’s amplitude or frequency or phase

modulation, inflection

(noun) a manner of speaking in which the loudness or pitch or tone of the voice is modified

intonation, modulation, pitch contour

(noun) rise and fall of the voice pitch

transition, modulation

(noun) a musical passage moving from one key to another

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Noun

modulation (countable and uncountable, plural modulations)

The process of applying a signal to a carrier, modulating.

The variation and regulation of a population, physiological response, etc.

(music) A change in key.

Source: Wiktionary

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

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

2. Sound modulated; melody. [R.] Thomson.

3. (Mus.)

Definition: 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.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition