modify

緩和，減輕

修改，變更，更改，稍作修改

調節，調整

【語法】修飾

使更適合

使温和

限制

【哲】規定

【語音學】改變（母音），使（元音）變音

改變，改進，改善，改造

減退

被改變

被修飾

被減輕 ^[1] 

The industrial revolution modified the whole structure of English society.
　　工業革命改變了整個英國社會的結構。

You'd better modify your tone.
　　你最好緩和一下你的口氣。

He will have to modify his views if he wants to be elected.
　　他如果想當選,就得把觀點變得温和些。

In “the black cat” the adjective “black” modifies the noun “cat”.
　　在“the black cat”這一詞組中,形容詞“black”修飾名詞“cat”。

We have to modify our plan a little bit.
　　我們得對我們的計劃稍加修改。

The policy was agreed by the committee,but only in a modified form.
　　那項政策經修改後才獲得委員會同意。

The union has been forced to slightly modify its position.
　　工會被迫稍稍改變立場。

He'll have to modify his views if he wants to be elected.
　　他要想當選就得把觀點改得緩和些。

Adverbs modify verbs and adjectives.
　　副詞修飾動詞和形容詞。

Those designs must be modified if they are to be used.
　　如果他們要用的話,這些設計一定要改動。

The equipment was modified to produce locomotives.
　　這設備被改作火車頭了。

The heating system has recently been modified to make it more efficient.
　　暖氣設備最近已進行了改造,使其效率得到提高。 ^[1] 

modify的基本意思是“改變,修改,調整”,強調在一定限度或範圍內部分地改變,多用於觀點、方法、制度、組織、計劃等。

modify引申可表示“修飾”“限定”,尤指形容詞或副詞修飾另一詞或限定另一詞的意義。 ^[1]