afinar
afinar(
ah
-
fee
-
nahr
)A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).
1. (music)
a. to tune
Para tocar esta canción, tienes que afinar la guitarra un tono más grave.You must tune your guitar a whole step down to play this song.
2. (to hone)
a. to polish
La gimnasta tiene que afinar sus movimientos finales.The gymnast needs to polish her ending poses.
b. to perfect
Tienes buena velocidad, pero tienes que afinar tu técnica.Your speed is great, but you need to perfect your technique.
c. to refine
Viajé a París para practicar y afinar mi francés.I traveled to Paris to practice and refine my French.
3. (to point)
a. to sharpen
El cazador afinó la punta de la lanza con un cuchillo.The hunter sharpened the end of the spear with a knife.
4. (mechanics)
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
(Latin America)
a. to tune up
El mecánico afinó el motor de mi coche para que ande con más caballos de fuerza.The mechanic tuned up my car to give it more horsepower.
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g. The man sneezed.).
5. (to perform in proper pitch)
a. to sing in tune (singer)
Puedo afinar, pero no tengo una voz potente.I can sing in tune, but my voice is not powerful.
b. to play in tune (musician)
Uno de los violinistas del cuarteto de cuerdas no está afinando.One of the violinists in the string quarter is not playing in tune.
6. (to adjust to pitch)
a. to tune up
La banda va a subir al escenario cuando terminen de afinar.The band will go on stage after tuning up.
afinarse
A pronominal verb always uses a reflexive pronoun. (e.g. Te ves cansado.).
7. (to become better)
a. to become polished
El estilo de López se afinó cuando recibió lecciones del compositor Ibáñez.Lopez's style became polished when he received lessons from the composer Ibanez.
8. (to get thinner)
a. to become thinner
El túnel se afinaba cerca de la salida.The tunnel became thinner towards the exit.
afinar
A transitive verb is a verb that requires a direct object (e.g. I bought a book.).
1. (music)
a. to tune
afinar la vozto sing in tune
2. (perfeccionar, mejorar)
a. to fine-tune
afinar la punteríato improve one's aim
3. (pulir)
a. to refine
An intransitive verb is one that does not require a direct object (e.g. The man sneezed.).
4. (cantar)
a. to sing in tune
Collins Complete Spanish Electronic Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
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Examples
Verb Conjugations for afinar
| Present | Preterite | Imperfect | Conditional | Future | |
| yo | |||||
| tú | |||||
| él/ella/Ud. | |||||
| nosotros | |||||
| vosotros | |||||
| ellos/ellas/Uds. |
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