attune
attune Lexical Profile
attune Game Scores & Validity
• verb
To make receptive, aware, or responsive to a particular situation, environment, or need; to bring into harmony or alignment.
"Experienced teachers quickly attune themselves to the learning styles of their students."
To bring a musical instrument or sound into musical accord or proper pitch (now chiefly literary or archaic).
"The minstrel paused to attune the strings of his lute before beginning the ballad."
Word Nuance & Usage
Most commonly used in the passive or participial construction 'attuned to' to describe being receptive to or aware of something.
• Rhymes for attune
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in the late 16th century by combining the assimilated Latinate prefix 'at-' (from 'ad-', meaning 'to') with the noun and verb 'tune', originally used in a literal musical sense before shifting primarily to figurative harmony.