acoustic

[ uh-koo-stik ]

See synonyms for acoustic on Thesaurus.com

adjectiveAlso a·cous·ti·cal.

pertaining to the sense or organs of hearing, to sound, or to the science of sound.
(of a building material) designed for controlling sound.

Music.
- of, relating to, or being a musical instrument whose sound is not electrically enhanced or modified.
- arranged for or made up of such instruments: an acoustic solo; an acoustic group.

noun

Obsolete. a remedy for deafness or imperfect hearing.

Origin of acoustic

From the Greek word akoustikós, dating back to 1595–1605. See acouasm, -tic

Other words from acoustic

a·cous·ti·cal·ly, adverb
non·a·cous·tic, adjective, noun
non·a·cous·ti·cal, adjective
non·a·cous·ti·cal·ly, adverb
un·a·cous·tic, adjective
un·a·cous·ti·cal, adjective
un·a·cous·ti·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use acoustic in a sentence

The building possesses about the best acoustical properties of any place of worship in Preston.
Our Churches and Chapels | Atticus
We need investigation to determine the laws of the influence of optical and acoustical knowledge upon perception.
Criminal Psychology | Hans Gross
Even with the best of acoustical systems, hearing inside a helmet tended to be distorted and dimmed.
The Judas Valley | Gerald Vance
Bell suddenly turned aside, because of his acoustical knowledge, and invented the telephone, while Gray kept straight ahead.
The History of the Telephone | Herbert N. Casson
Acoustical research was his real interest, and to that he devoted all the time and money he could spare from his business.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 8 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for acoustic

acoustic

acoustical

/ (əˈkuːstɪk) /

adjective

of or related to sound, the sense of hearing, or acoustics
designed to respond to, absorb, or control sound: an acoustic tile

(of a musical instrument or recording) without electronic amplification: an acoustic bass; an acoustic guitar

Origin of acoustic

C17: from Greek akoustikos, from akouein to hear

Derived forms of acoustic

acoustically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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