Modal
adjective
Related to a mode, type or way of doing something.
Modal verbs in English include 'can', 'could', 'may', 'might', etc.
Often appears as...
- modal verb
- modal logic
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A type of auxiliary verb used to express possibility, permission, or necessity.
In the sentence 'He might go there', 'might' is a modal.
Often appears as...
- modal verb
- modal auxiliary
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Related to mode or form in music.
He wrote a piece in the modal style using the Dorian mode.
Often appears as...
- modal jazz
- modal harmony
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Related to statistical mode, the value that appears most frequently in a data set.
The modal value of the set {2, 3, 2, 8, 12} is 2.
Often appears as...
- modal value
- modal class
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Property of a thing by which it may occur in several different forms.
Modal properties are those which are related to the different ways or modes a thing may be.
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Related to or being a mode of transportation.
Bus, train, bicycle are different modal choices for transportation.
Often appears as...
- modal choice
- modal shift
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
In computing, it refers to a window or dialog box requiring user interaction before it can be closed.
When you click 'save as', a modal dialog box appears for you to choose a location to save the file.
Often appears as...
- modal window
- modal dialog
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Related to a mode, type or way of doing something.
Modal verbs in English include 'can', 'could', 'may', 'might', etc.
Often appears as...
- modal verb
- modal logic
Usage tips
Academic
noun
A type of auxiliary verb used to express possibility, permission, or necessity.
In the sentence 'He might go there', 'might' is a modal.
Often appears as...
- modal verb
- modal auxiliary
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Related to mode or form in music.
He wrote a piece in the modal style using the Dorian mode.
Often appears as...
- modal jazz
- modal harmony
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Related to statistical mode, the value that appears most frequently in a data set.
The modal value of the set {2, 3, 2, 8, 12} is 2.
Often appears as...
- modal value
- modal class
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Property of a thing by which it may occur in several different forms.
Modal properties are those which are related to the different ways or modes a thing may be.
Usage tips
Academic
adjective
Related to or being a mode of transportation.
Bus, train, bicycle are different modal choices for transportation.
Often appears as...
- modal choice
- modal shift
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
In computing, it refers to a window or dialog box requiring user interaction before it can be closed.
When you click 'save as', a modal dialog box appears for you to choose a location to save the file.
Often appears as...
- modal window
- modal dialog
Usage tips
Technical
Definition 1 of 7
Pro Tip 1/2Expression Emphasis
In English, modals alter the tone, showing degrees of politeness, certainty, or suggestions.
'Could you pass the salt?' is more polite than 'Pass the salt.'
Pro Tip 2/2Cultural Understanding
Some cultures perceive modal verbs as less direct and therefore more polite.
Saying 'You might refrain from smoking' suggests politeness.
Pro Tip 1/2Expression Emphasis
In English, modals alter the tone, showing degrees of politeness, certainty, or suggestions.
'Could you pass the salt?' is more polite than 'Pass the salt.'
Pro Tip 2/2Cultural Understanding
Some cultures perceive modal verbs as less direct and therefore more polite.
Saying 'You might refrain from smoking' suggests politeness.
Pro Tip 1/2Expression Emphasis
In English, modals alter the tone, showing degrees of politeness, certainty, or suggestions.
'Could you pass the salt?' is more polite than 'Pass the salt.'
Pro Tip 2/2Cultural Understanding
Some cultures perceive modal verbs as less direct and therefore more polite.
Saying 'You might refrain from smoking' suggests politeness.
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Video examples
Perspective is...
decided this wasn't good enough and they wanted to get it up to 99 the effort to do that almost broke the organization if at the same time you've gone and asked people what percentage of first-class mail arrives the next day the average answer would have been 50 or the modal
Video examples
Rory Sutherland:...
the average answer, or the modal answer, would have been "50 to 60 percent." Now, if your perception is much worse than your reality, what on earth are you doing trying to change the reality? That's like trying to improve the food in a restaurant that stinks.
Video examples
The Power of Choice PIPE...
people play it's not how college students play and in the play of this game in primitive societies it's not the way people in primitive societies play either offers the modal officer offers
Video examples
Perspective is...
decided this wasn't good enough and they wanted to get it up to 99 the effort to do that almost broke the organization if at the same time you've gone and asked people what percentage of first-class mail arrives the next day the average answer would have been 50 or the modal
Video examples
Rory Sutherland:...
the average answer, or the modal answer, would have been "50 to 60 percent." Now, if your perception is much worse than your reality, what on earth are you doing trying to change the reality? That's like trying to improve the food in a restaurant that stinks.
Video examples
The Power of Choice PIPE...
people play it's not how college students play and in the play of this game in primitive societies it's not the way people in primitive societies play either offers the modal officer offers
Example 1 of 3
Quote examples
Gayle King
American Entertainer
I consider myself lucky that Sheila Johnson, the cofounder of Black Entertainment Television, didn't choose to rest on her very impressive business laurels. Her luscious 100 percent modal scarves, printed with photos she takes all over the world, are gorgeous. Wearing one is like being wrapped in a hug.
Quote examples
Nile Rodgers
American Musician
Trust me, the only real way to understand 'Chic' is in highfalutin terms. Our chord progressions were based on European modal melodies. I made those early 'Chic' records to impress my jazz friends.
Quote examples
Gayle King
American Entertainer
I consider myself lucky that Sheila Johnson, the cofounder of Black Entertainment Television, didn't choose to rest on her very impressive business laurels. Her luscious 100 percent modal scarves, printed with photos she takes all over the world, are gorgeous. Wearing one is like being wrapped in a hug.
Quote examples
Nile Rodgers
American Musician
Trust me, the only real way to understand 'Chic' is in highfalutin terms. Our chord progressions were based on European modal melodies. I made those early 'Chic' records to impress my jazz friends.
Example 1 of 2
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