modify meaning

• Verb: modify  'módu`fI
  1. Make less severe or harsh or extreme
     "please modify this letter to make it more polite"; "he modified his views on same-gender marriage" 
  2. Add a modifier to a constituent
     - qualify 
  3. Cause to change; make different; cause a transformation
     - change, alter

  Derived forms: modified, modifies, modifying

  See also: modifiable, modification, modifier

  Type of: add, change

  Encyclopedia: Modify

• 
  [Business]
  AmE / verb [+ obj] (modifies, modifying, modified, modified)

  to change sth slightly, especially in order to make it more suitable for a particular purpose:

  The software is modified for specific customers.

  We found it cheaper to modify existing equipment rather than buy new.

  They're planning to sell a modified version of their popular small car.

  SYN ADAPT

  modification /; AmE / noun [C,U]:

  Considerable modification of the existing system is needed.

  It might be necessary to make a few slight modifications to the design.

• 
  [Electronics]
  To perform a MODIFICATION to a circuit,
  device, system, signal, program address, etc.
  moding A fault characterized by oscillation of a
  MAGNETRON in undesirable modes.
  
• 
  [Medicine]
  vt -fied; -fy·ing : to make a change in ‹modify behavior by the use of drugs› — mod·i·fi·abil·i·ty n pl -ties — mod·i·fi·able adj
  

• request modify:    [Defence] (*) In a ...

Examples

1. the grower can modify his cultural program.
2. fertilizers modify the composition of herbage.
3. they may simply modify the verb.
4. they may modify the whole sentence.
5. the structure of the iris will also modify the shade.