acoustic
Americanadjective
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pertaining to the sense or organs of hearing, to sound, or to the science of sound.
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(of a building material) designed for controlling sound.
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Music.
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of, relating to, or being a musical instrument whose sound is not electrically enhanced or modified.
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arranged for or made up of such instruments.
an acoustic solo; an acoustic group.
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noun
adjective
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of or related to sound, the sense of hearing, or acoustics
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designed to respond to, absorb, or control sound
an acoustic tile
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(of a musical instrument or recording) without electronic amplification
an acoustic bass
an acoustic guitar
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of acoustic
From the Greek word akoustikós, dating back to 1595–1605. See acouasm, -tic
Explanation
Acoustic means having to do with sound. In concert halls, acoustic panels direct the way sound moves. An audio engineer is trained in acoustic design for music recording. If you prefer the softer sound of acoustic rock, it means you like rock played on acoustic instruments. These include the guitar, violin, 'cello, viola, or harp––anything really that does not rely on electrical amplification to be heard. If a room has good acoustics, it means sound travels clearly and consistently through the space, and it's good for concerts.
Vocabulary lists containing acoustic
Music - Introductory
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Music - Middle School
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"Coming to Our Senses," Vocabulary from the science essay
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Earlier Wild Pink LPs had folkier arrangements that leaned more on acoustic guitar, and Mr. Ross often sang in a whisper.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 18, 2026
"I quite like acoustic music, so some acoustic numbers in there would be nice."
From BBC ● Aug. 13, 2026
Suggested causes include acoustic pollution from human activity, naturally occurring environmental sounds and conspiracy theories involving the CIA or even aliens.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 19, 2026
Their unobtrusive placement complements their immersive musicality, hitherto only possible outdoors with high-end earphones or headphones connected to sophisticated digital acoustic conversion equipment costing a bundle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 16, 2026
Being near an acoustic instrument or speakers offers the greatest benefit from the sound.
From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
