n. (Electronics) An electronic device which extracts the modulation from a radio carrier wave, and outputs the original information-bearing signal.
Syn. -- detector. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ] [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Modulated p. pr. & vb. n. Modulating ] [ L. modulatus, p. p. of modulari to measure, to modulate, fr. modulus a small measure, meter, melody, dim. of modus. See Mode. ] 1. To form, as sound, to a certain key, or to a certain portion. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To vary or inflect in a natural, customary, or musical manner; as, the organs of speech modulate the voice in reading or speaking. [ 1913 Webster ]

Could any person so modulate her voice as to deceive so many? Broome. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Electronics) To alter the amplitude, frequency, phase, or intensity of (the carrier wave of a radio signal) at intervals, so as to represent information to be conveyed by the signal; -- a technique used to convey information by means of radio waves transmitted by one electronic device and received by another. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

v. i. (Mus.) To pass from one key into another. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. (Electronics) 1. Having either amplitude, intensity, frequency, or phase altered at intervals to represent information to be transmitted; -- of the carrier wave of a radio signal transmitted from one device to another for the purpose of conveying information. Opposite of unmodulated. [ Narrower terms: frequency modulated; amplitude modulated ] [ WordNet 1.5 ]

2. altered in volume as well as tone or pitch. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. modulatio: cf. F. modulation. ] 1. The act of modulating, or the state of being modulated; as, the modulation of the voice. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Sound modulated; melody. [ R. ] Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Mus.) A change of key, whether transient, or until the music becomes established in the new key; a shifting of the tonality of a piece, so that the harmonies all center upon a new keynote or tonic; the art of transition out of the original key into one nearly related, and so on, it may be, by successive changes, into a key quite remote. There are also sudden and unprepared modulations. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. (Electronics) The alteration of hte amplitude, intensity, frequency, or phase (of the carrier wave of a radio signal) at intervals, so as to represent information to be transmitted. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ L. ] One who, or that which, modulates. Denham. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. An electronic device that converts electronic signals into sound waves, and sound waves into electronic signals, used to transmit information between computers by the use of ordinary telephone lines; usually called a modem. [ PJC ]