Tunable

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈtjuːnəb(ə)l/

Definitions

1. Adjustable to allow for modifications that meet specific performance criteria or user preferences
2. Able to be altered or adapted to enhance efficiency, functionality, or user satisfaction
3. Capable of being changed or fine-tuned to suit particular requirements or conditions

Etymology: "Tunable" is a plain formation: the noun-turned-verb "tune" plus the suffix "-able," meaning "capable of being." The suffix itself took a long route into English. It descends from Latin "-bilis," which was extended to "-ābilis" in Latin, passed into Old French as "-able," and was borrowed into Middle English, where it became a productive ending that English speakers could attach to nearly any verb. Once that happened, "tune" could simply take the ending, and "tunable" follows the same pattern as countless older words. The base word "tune" has its own separate history: it is an alteration of "tone," so the two are related but diverged in English. Its sense of bringing an instrument into correct pitch gave rise to the idea of adjusting something so it works properly, which is the sense "tunable" carries today. The adjective is used most often for radios and other electronic devices, where a receiver can be set to a particular frequency, and more broadly for anything adjustable to needs.

Synonyms: adjustable, modifiable