retune
UK[ˌriːˈtjuːn]US[ˌriːˈtuːn]
v
to adjust the tuning of a musical instrument or a device like a radio or television.
v
to adjust or adapt something to a new purpose, condition, or standard.
Morpheme Breakdown
re
tune
re
again
tune
adjust pitch
Etymology
the word 'retune' is a modern english formation, combining the latin prefix 're-' with the older verb 'tune'. the base 'tune' traces back to the greek 'tonos', meaning tension or pitch, which entered latin as 'tonus' and evolved through old french and middle english to signify musical adjustment. the literal meaning of adjusting the pitch of an instrument again is directly preserved from its components. this transparent construction then extended metaphorically to describe the process of readapting or recalibrating any system to a new state.
Analysis
Structure: re (again) + tune (adjust pitch)
re: latin origin, a prefix meaning "again" or "back".
tune: from middle english, old english 'tune' and old french 'ton', from latin 'tonus' (sound, tone), from greek 'tonos' (tension, pitch). functions as the base word meaning to adjust for proper musical pitch or harmony.
Examples
the guitarist had to retune his instrument after the string broke.
we need to retune the engine to improve its fuel efficiency.
after moving to a new country, it took her some time to retune her expectations.