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  • audio
    audio
    adjective
    designating an electronic apparatus using audio frequencies.
  • audio-
    audio-
    a combining form used in the formation of compound words, with the meanings: “sound within the range of human hearing” (audiometer ); “hearing” (audiology ); “sound reproduction” (audiophile ).
Synonyms

audio

1 American  
[aw-dee-oh] / ˈɔ diˌoʊ /

adjective

  1. Electronics. designating an electronic apparatus using audio frequencies.

    audio amplifier.

  2. of, relating to, or employed in the transmission, reception, or reproduction of sound.

  3. of or relating to frequencies or signals in the audible range.


noun

  • audios
    plural
  1. Television.

    1. the audio elements of television (distinguished from video).

    2. the circuits in a receiver for reproducing sound.

    3. the audio part of a television broadcast.

  2. the field of sound recording, transmission, reception, and reproduction.

audio- 2 American  
  1. a combining form used in the formation of compound words, with the meanings: “sound within the range of human hearing” (audiometer ); “hearing” (audiology ); “sound reproduction” (audiophile ).


audio 1 British  
/ ˈɔːdɪˌəʊ /

noun

  1. of or relating to sound or hearing

    audio frequency

  2. relating to or employed in the transmission, reception, or reproduction of sound

  3. of, concerned with, or operating at audio frequencies

"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

audio- 2 British  

combining form

  1. indicating hearing or sound

    audiometer

    audiovisual

"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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of audio1

First recorded in 1920–25; independent use of audio-

Origin of audio-2

< Latin audī- (stem of audīre to hear) + -o-

Explanation

Audio means sound. If you turn up the volume and turn down the bass on your TV, you adjust the audio. The noun audio always refers to what you can hear, although there are several different ways to use it. If you covet expensive speakers for your stereo, you wish for new audio equipment, and when someone complains about the sound at a movie theater he might say, "The audio is way too loud." Audio was first used as a prefix, in words like audio-frequency, and came to mean "recorded sound" in the 1930s.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing audio

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.

See Examples For:

The project also includes the restoration of the theater’s historic Art Deco features and auditorium ceiling mural, along with upgraded audio, visual and lighting systems as well as a broadcast room.

From Los Angeles Times Aug. 24, 2026

Thus, he enjoyed great success with films like 1934’s “Modern Times,” which softly transitioned into the new era by preserving much of silent filmmaking’s expressiveness while incorporating synchronized audio.

From Salon Aug. 22, 2026

Judge Choudhury said her decision was influenced by audio recordings of phone calls and expert testimony showing Jeffries possesses sufficient cognitive function to participate in his defense.

From The Wall Street Journal Aug. 21, 2026

Prized vinyl records and vintage audio equipment are nothing more than a blank mush, speckled with ashes and broken pieces.

From Barron's Aug. 20, 2026

“Earthling, is your audio intake system damaged? Can you hear me, Earthling?”

From "Boy21" by Matthew Quick

Along the way, the camera-equipped, audio- and video-recording devices have become a privacy lightning rod.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 14, 2026

The lawyers propose that the evaluations be audio- and video-recorded and last eight hours for adults and four to six hours for children.

From Seattle Times Oct. 18, 2021

The meeting was audio- and video-recorded by Nike’s lawyers.

From Los Angeles Times Mar. 26, 2019

At Bridgewater, most meetings and many common areas are audio- or video-recorded.

From The Wall Street Journal Mar. 16, 2016

Americans this year will spend some $35 billion on records, audio- and videotapes and CDs, almost as much as they will spend on Japanese hardware manufactured to play them.

From Time Magazine Archive

The law's critics argued it unjustly targeted journalists, who often source stories based on images showing graphic violence, including messages left by alleged gang members, or even interviews, graffiti and audios shared on social media.

From Reuters Nov. 2, 2023

The release of the audios came a few days after the federation said it was targeted by hackers who also stole emails, text messages and documents involving its top officials.

From Seattle Times Apr. 18, 2022

Recent terrific audios of new novels include “The Lincoln Highway” and “Cloud Cuckoo Land.”

From New York Times Mar. 24, 2022

Mental health experts today have access to thousands of videos, audios, tweets, interviews and speeches of the president and innumerable other public figures and politicians.

From Salon Jan. 5, 2022

Sabo eased himself from the seat, tuning up his audios to their highest sensitivity, moving over to Brownie.

From Derelict by Alan Edward Nourse

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