Distune

/dɪsˈtjuːn/ verb

Definition

To put something out of tune or to disrupt the harmony of something.

Etymology

Combining dis- (to reverse or negate) + tune (from Old French tone, from Latin tonus meaning sound or tone). This is a relatively rare formation following the productive dis- prefix pattern.

Kelly Says

This word is almost obsolete in modern English, but it perfectly captures what happens when musicians ignore each other—the whole group becomes distuned rather than just individually out of tune.

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