From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishmodifymod‧i‧fy /ˈmɒdɪfaɪ $ ˈmɑː-/ ●●○ AWL verb (modified, modifying, modifies) [transitive] 1 CHANGE/MAKE something DIFFERENTto make small changes to something in order to improve it and make it more suitable or effective SYN adapt The feedback will be used to modify the course for next year. The regulations can only be modified by a special committee.modify something to do something The seats can be modified to fit other types of vehicle.2 technicalSLG if an adjective, adverb etc modifies another word, it describes something or limits the word’s meaning. In the phrase ‘walk slowly’, the adverb ‘slowly’ modifies the verb ‘walk’.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
modify• The recipe is modified and simplified by succeeding generations of cooks.• The engines of the Atlas burned a modified aviation fuel, similar to kerosene, with liquid oxygen.• The biotech corporations argue that genetically modified crops will put an end to food shortages in the developing world.• They would, of course, be modified from normal naval requirements to suit our purposes.• We all modify our speech when speaking to people in authority.• Any move to modify that transgressive stance is seen by some as treason.• We can modify the design to make it suitable for commercial production.• I modified the handlebars on my bike to make it more comfortable.• Although research has modified this supposition, it is none the less true that males are generally seducers and females the seduced.• They have similar Uvalues to triple glazing and good solar control properties which can be modified to suit specific needs.From Longman Business Dictionarymodifymod‧i‧fy /ˈmɒdəfaɪˈmɑː-/ verb (past tense and past participle modified) [transitive] to make changes, especially small changes, to something in order to improve it and make it more suitable or effectiveThe plan has been slightly modified.Banks have modified their traditional role and now offer mortgages, pensions, and other financial services.→ See Verb tableOrigin modify (1300-1400) French modifier, from Latin modificare “to measure, moderate”, from modus; → MODE 