noise

American  

[noiz] / nɔɪz /

noun

1. sound, especially of a loud, harsh, or confused kind.

   deafening noises.

   Synonyms:

   tumult, uproar, blare, clatter

2. a sound of any kind.

   to hear a noise at the door.

3. loud shouting, outcry, or clamor.

4. a nonharmonious or discordant group of sounds.

5. an electric disturbance in a communications system that interferes with or prevents reception of a signal or of information, as the buzz on a telephone or snow on a television screen.

6. Informal. extraneous, irrelevant, or meaningless facts, information, statistics, etc..

   The noise in the report obscured its useful information.

7. Informal. rumor or gossip, especially slander.

8. Informal. Usually noises a statement or utterance that hints at or expresses a feeling or intention, especially without action being taken: We’re hearing sympathetic noises from many countries, but haven't received any concrete offers of assistance.

   There’s been some angry noise about the new curriculum. He’s making noises to the press about running for mayor.

   We’re hearing sympathetic noises from many countries, but haven't received any concrete offers of assistance.

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verb (used with object)

noised, noising

1. to spread, as a report or rumor; disseminate (usually followed by about orabroad ).

   A new scandal is being noised about.

verb (used without object)

noised, noising

1. to talk much or publicly.

2. to make a noise, outcry, or clamor.

noise British  

/ nɔɪz /

noun

1. a sound, esp one that is loud or disturbing

2. loud shouting; clamour; din

3. any undesired electrical disturbance in a circuit, degrading the useful information in a signal See also signal-to-noise ratio

4. undesired or irrelevant elements in a visual image

   removing noise from pictures

5. talk or interest

   noise about strikes

6. (plural) conventional comments or sounds conveying a reaction, attitude, feeling, etc

   she made sympathetic noises

7. to talk a great deal or complain

8. informal to give indications of one's intentions

   the government is making noises about new social security arrangements

9. theatre sounds made offstage intended for the ears of the audience: used as a stage direction

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verb

1. (tr; usually foll by abroad or about) to spread (news, gossip, etc)

2. rare (intr) to talk loudly or at length

3. rare (intr) to make a din or outcry; be noisy

Related Words

Noise, clamor, din, hubbub, racket refer to unmusical or confused sounds. Noise is the general word and is applied equally to soft or loud, confused or inharmonious sounds: street noises. Clamor and hubbub are alike in referring to loud noises resulting from shouting, cries, animated or excited tones, and the like; but in clamor the emphasis is on the meaning of the shouting, and in hubbub the emphasis is on the confused mingling of sounds: the clamor of an angry crowd; His voice could be heard above the hubbub. Din suggests a loud, resonant noise, painful if long continued: the din of a boiler works. Racket suggests a loud, confused noise of the kind produced by clatter or percussion: He always makes a racket when he cleans up the dishes. See sound ¹.

Other Word Forms

• unnoised adjective

Etymology

Origin of noise

First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English, from Old French, from Latin nausea “seasickness”; nausea

Explanation

A noise is any sound. Often, it means a sound people don't like, like the noise of traffic or a barking dog. When someone yells "What is that noise?!" you can be sure they're not happy about what they're hearing. They mean noise as anything too loud or annoying. When it comes to music, people often disagree on what's noise and what isn't. Your noise might be another person's lullaby. A car siren will wake you up, but some noises can be soothing. "White noise" is an electronically generated sound often used to help someone fall asleep.

Example Sentences

Even small amounts of electromagnetic noise can disrupt the fragile quantum states needed for computation.

From Science Daily • Apr. 13, 2026

They waited until it was completely dark, and did their best to make as little noise as possible so that nobody would notice and report us to the family planning office.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 13, 2026

"A couple of games ago we beat Chelsea away and beat Manchester United and you sit here off the back of a disappointing run and the outside noise is to change everything," he added.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2026

That segment of the show largely stripped out the guitars to focus on clubby techno and nasty slashes of synth noise.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2026

“And what about that scary noise a minute ago? Sounded like a crying baby.”

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

Related Words

• blast
• buzz
• cacophony
• clamor
• commotion
• crash
• cry
• explosion
• roar
• turbulence