acoustics
Americannoun
-
(used with a singular verb) the branch of physics that deals with sound and sound waves.
-
(used with a plural verb) the qualities or characteristics of a room, auditorium, stadium, etc., that determine the audibility or fidelity of sounds in it.
noun
-
(functioning as singular) the scientific study of sound and sound waves
-
(functioning as plural) the characteristics of a room, auditorium, etc, that determine the fidelity with which sound can be heard within it
-
The scientific study of sound and its transmission.
-
The total effect of sound, especially as produced in an enclosed space.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of acoustics
Explanation
If you choose to study sound, your field of expertise would be called acoustics. Once you get your degree, you might be hired by concert halls to improve the acoustics, or how sound carries through the room. Changing the acoustics of a room can be as simple as adding carpeting or curtains, as materials absorb sound waves. When you go to a fancy restaurant, look around. You might see decorative fabric panels on the walls. These acoustic panels don't just make the room look good, they make it so that you can hear your neighbor, but not the fellow across the room.
Vocabulary lists containing acoustics
List 5
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Theater - Middle School
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Theater - High School
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
"Independent environmental assessments -- covering grid stability, power supply, water risk, ecology, acoustics and more -- are conducted 12 to 24 months before a project begins," he said.
From Barron's ● Oct. 11, 2026
In some, I couldn't hear the coroner through the noise of a busy train line, or because of poor acoustics in a vast room; in others, rooms became so hot that regular breaks were required.
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
Peterson had already played there many times by 1960, and he and his manager-producer, Norman Granz, realized that with its comparatively small space and excellent acoustics Baker’s was perfect for a live recording.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
Michael Stocker, executive director of the acoustics group Ocean Conservation Research, has been leading whale-viewing trips to the gray whales’ breeding ground at San Ignacio Lagoon in Baja California since 2006.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 8, 2026
The basilica is a vast, cavernous, echoing space, with all sorts of alcoves, balconies, domes, cupolas and arches affecting its acoustics.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
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.
