View synonyms for

tune-up

[ toon-uhp, tyoon- ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

an adjustment, as of a motor, to improve working order or condition:
The car needs a tune-up badly.
Informal. a preparatory activity or warm-up, as before a contest or game:
The track meet served as a tune-up for the Olympics.

tune up

verb

to adjust (a musical instrument) to a particular pitch, esp a standard one
(esp of an orchestra or other instrumental ensemble) to tune (instruments) to a common pitch
tr to adjust (an engine) in (a car, etc) to improve performance

noun

adjustments made to an engine to improve its performance

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Word History and Origins

Origin of tune-up¹

First recorded in 1945–50; noun use of verb phrase tune up

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Idioms and Phrases

Adjust machinery so it is in proper condition, as in I took the car in to be tuned up . [Early 1900s]

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Roberts said Gonsolin will throw another rehab start — aiming for the five-inning marker — in Oklahoma City next week, and is on track with his tune-up.

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For the Americans vying for a spot on the Olympic team, it served as key tune-up.

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After you’ve got a few growing seasons under your belt, a “tune-up” might help keep your garden skills sharp.

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Butler also attends “tune-up” workouts, as Scott says, during the season on top of his weight training and team practices.

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The Winter Cup is the first major tune-up for American gymnasts hoping to make this summer’s Olympic team.

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

tunesmith tungo

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