9 Beat/track/tone

tune-up

the act of preparing for something "a t____-up game/fight. In a t________ for his presidential race, he ran for a seat in Croatia's parliament."

to tune up

to make small improvements to something so that it is as good as possible

• "Microsoft is t_______ up for the release of its latest operating system.

• The group spent several weeks tuning ____ its act before the tour began.

• This course will help you t______ up your computer skills."

• We'll advise you on how to t____ up your portfolio for the end of the financial year.

to tune up

The band were t________ up their guitars.

Get into the habit of t________ up your guitar every day before you practise.

be tuned in to

to have a good understanding of what is happening in a situation or what other people are thinking

• He has to be t__ in __ the latest trends as part of his job.

• Our staff are trained to be t___ in ___ the needs of children.

tune (someone/something) out

(inf) to ignore someone or not give your attention to something or to what is happening around you

• "Beverly always t______ out in the middle of her music lesson. (inf Am)

• She tends to tune ______ her parents' advice and make her own decisions." (Br)

tune in to something

to turn on a radio or television

• Millions of viewers t_______ in to learn the election results.

• Be sure to tune in ___ next week's show.

tunes

a series of musical notes, especially one that is pleasant and easy to remember

He was humming a _____ as he dried the dishes.

She can't even sing in t______. (___ of tune)

It’s a catchy t____.

melodist

a person who is good at writing melodies

• He was one of classical music's supreme m_________.

melodies

a tune, often forming part of a larger piece of music (C or U); the main tune in a piece of music that is often played or sung more than once Could you play the m______ for me?

melodiously

in a way that is very pleasant to listen to The birds on the branches above twittered as m_________ as any I have ever heard.

melodious

very pleasant to listen to

tracks

one of several songs or pieces of music on a CD or other musical recording

• The album includes four previously unreleased t_______.

notes

a single sound at a particular level

• melodious n_______.

• Ann blew a few n______ on the trumpet.

tones

the quality of sound of a musical instrument or singing voice

• This melody has somber t______ to it.

tone in

colours match and look pleasant together

• The green of your scarf t________ in with your shoes.

tone something down

to make something less forceful or offensive, usually a piece of writing or a speech

tone poem

a piece of music for instruments that represents a particular story, image, or mood

• The t____ poem masterfully conjures up images of the sea.

tone-deaf to

1. not able to recognize different notes or sing tunes accurately

2. not understanding how people feel about something, or what is needed in a particular situation

She complains that the store's management has been t__ d___ when it comes to women's issues.

Many politicians are t___ d___ t__ the anxieties of the average voter.

tonelessly

in a way that does not express any emotion

• They start ton_______ reading the script on the screen in front of them.

rthyms

(C or U) a strong pattern of sounds, words, or musical notes that is used in music, poetry, and dancing

• He beat out a jazz rh____ on the drums.

• I've got no sense of rh______, so I'm a terrible dancer.

• She was lulled to sleep by the gentle rhy_____ of the boat in the water.

• Waking and sleeping are examples of biological/circadian rh______s.

rhythmically

in a way that has a regular, repeated movement or beat

• Try to breathe deeply and rh________.

beats

(CorU) in music, a regular emphasis, or a place in the music where such an emphasis is expected:

• He tapped his foot to the b_____ (= rhythm) of the music.

• We clapped in time to the b______.

to beat time

a conductor beating ti____ with his baton

He beat______ on the table to mark the rhythm of the poem."