modal

Expressing whether something is possible, allowed, necessary, or within someone's ability.

• Can is a modal verb.
• We practiced using modal verbs to ask permission.
• This sentence has a modal meaning of necessity.

Common phrases: modal verb, modal auxiliary, modal meaning

Connected with a particular form, method, or system, such as a musical scale.

• The choir sang a modal melody.
• Modal harmony gives this music a distinctive sound.
• Engineers used modal analysis to study the bridge's vibrations.

Common phrases: modal music, modal harmony, modal analysis

Requiring you to deal with a window or message before using the rest of a computer program.

• A modal window asks for your password.
• Close the modal dialog to return to the document.
• The designer replaced the modal popup with a small notice.

Opposites: nonmodal

Common phrases: modal dialog, modal window, modal popup

Describing a value or amount in the middle of a group.

• The report calls the middle amount the modal value.
• In this table, modal refers to the central amount.
• The exercise uses modal for the value halfway through the ordered list.

Similar words: middle, central

Common phrases: modal value, modal amount

A helping verb, such as can or must, that expresses ability, possibility, permission, or need.

• Must is a modal.
• Which modal expresses ability in this sentence?
• We used different modals to make the requests more polite.

Similar words: modal verb, modal auxiliary

Common phrases: a modal, use a modal, past modal

A grammatical form, especially a helping verb, that expresses possibility, ability, permission, or need.

• This modal expresses a possibility.
• The grammar chapter compares modals across languages.
• A modal can change how certain a statement sounds.

Similar words: modal form

Common phrases: a modal, use a modal, past modal