1. (v. t.) To adjust in tone, inflection or pitch; to regulate; to temper\; To vary or inflect in a natural, customary, or musical manner; as, the organs of speech modulate the voice in reading or speaking.

2. (v. t.) To form, as sound, to a certain key, or to a certain portion.

3. (v. i.) To pass from one key into another.

abate accommodate adapt adjust adjust to allay alleviate alter ameliorate assuage attemper balance bank the fire be changed be converted into be renewed better blunt bottom out box in break break up change chasten checker chop chop and change circumscribe come about come around come round condition constrain control convert damp dampen de-emphasize deaden deform degenerate denature deteriorate deviate diminish diverge diversify downplay dull extenuate fit flop haul around hedge hedge about improve inflect intonate jibe keep within bounds lay leaven lenify lessen lighten limit lower meliorate mitigate moderate modify mutate narrow obtund overthrow palliate play down qualify re-create realign rebuild reconstruct redesign reduce reduce the temperature refit reform regulate regulate by remake renew reshape restrain restrict restructure revamp revive ring the changes season set set conditions set limits shift shift the scene shuffle the cards slacken slow down smother sober sober down soften stifle subdue subvert suppress swerve tack take a turn tame temper tone down tune tune down turn turn aside turn into turn the corner turn the scale turn the tables turn the tide turn upside down undergo a change underplay vary veer warp weaken work a change worsen