Definition of 'modal'

Word Frequency

modal

(moʊdəl )

Word forms: plural modals

countable noun

In grammar, a modal or a modal auxiliary is a word such as 'can' or 'would' which is used with a main verb to express ideas such as possibility, intention, or necessity.

[technical]

Word Frequency

modal in British

(ˈməʊdəl )

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of mode or manner

2. grammar

(of a verb form or auxiliary verb) expressing a distinction of mood, such as that between possibility and actuality. The modal auxiliaries in English include can, could, may, must, need, ought, shall, should, will, and would

3. philosophy, logic

qualifying or expressing a qualification of the truth of some statement, for example, as necessary or contingent

relating to analogous qualifications such as that of rules as obligatory or permissive

4. metaphysics

of or relating to the form of a thing as opposed to its attributes, substance, etc

5. music

of or relating to a mode

of or relating to a statistical mode

Derived forms

modally (ˈmodally)

adverb

Word Frequency

modal in American

(ˈmoʊdəl ; mōdˈ'l)

adjective

of or indicating a mode or mood

2. Grammar

of or expressing mood

a modal auxiliary

a. Jazz

of or relating to compositions or improvisations based on an arrangement of modes rather than a series of chord progressions

in popular music, of or characterized by the repetition of one or two chords as a harmonic base

4. Logic

expressing or characterized by modality

5. Music

of or composed in any of the medieval church modes

6. Philosophy

of mode, or form, as opposed to substance

7. Statistics

having to do with a statistical mode

noun

8. Grammar

modal auxiliary

Derived forms

modally (ˈmodally)

adverb

Word origin of 'modal'

ML modalis < L modus, mode

Trends of 'modal'

In Common Usage. modal is one of the 10000 most commonly used words in the Collins dictionary

View usage for:

Translations for 'modal'

British English: modal NOUN

In grammar, a modal or a modal auxiliary is a word such as 'can' or 'would' which is used with a main verb to express ideas such as possibility, intention, or necessity.

American English: modal
Brazilian Portuguese: modal
Chinese: 情态动词
European Spanish: modal
French: auxiliaire modal
German: Modalverb
Italian: verbo modale
Japanese: 法助動詞
Korean: 조동사
European Portuguese: modal
Spanish: modal