Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
"adjustments made to an automobile to improve its working," 1911, from verbal phrase tune up "bring to a state of effectiveness," 1718, in reference to musical instruments, from tune (v.) + up (adv.). Attested from 1901 in reference to engines. Meaning "event that serves as practice for a later one" is from 1934, U.S. sports jargon.
Wiktionary
n. 1 A series of adjustments to an engine in order to improve its performance 2 A series of preparations for vigorous exercise; a warm-up
WordNet
Wikipedia
A tune-up (also known as a major service) is regular maintenance performed on an automobile, or more generally, any internal combustion engine. Most automobile manufacturers recommend a tune-up be performed at an interval of 30,000 miles (48,000 km) or two years, whichever comes first.
Usage examples of "tune-up".
This revision includes tune-ups throughout the article, including the addition of ideas about weblogs and RSS, as well as a discussion of the durability of online publications.
She was still nursing agrudge over the fact that she had wasted all those weeks going to LaMazeclasses, hearing a bunch of bimbos in Birkenstocks rhapsodize over becoming onewith the pain, only to wind up spread-eagled on this damn table, slit open likea tax refund, and stuck full of more diagnostic equipment than a Porsche gettinga tune-up.
He kicked down a side door, hot-wiped a convertible waiting for tune-up and drove out to Highway 101, where he got in a drag race with some hoodlums from Pasadena.
He kicked down a side door, hot-wired a convertible waiting for tune-up and drove out to Highway 101, where he got in a drag race with some hood.
The big chains undercut him on lubes and oil changes and tune-ups, but his lot is always full because the people in the neighborhood know he can be persuaded to wait for full payment if you're in a bind.
The red sports car basically needed only a tune-up, and since the group seemed to carry a small-parts department with them, she was able to find what she needed easily.