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.

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noun

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 ).

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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

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audio- ² British  

combining form

1. indicating hearing or sound

   audiometer

   audiovisual

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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.

Example Sentences

The industry’s aggressive embrace of video is leaving audio fans confused.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 17, 2026

His father said he has photos, videos and audio recordings proving his presence in the Donetsk region, an area of active fighting.

From Barron's • Apr. 13, 2026

Taking thousands of images and recording audio descriptions of bleak beauty of the lunar surface as it passed beneath them, the crew eventually voyaged 252,756 miles from Earth.

From BBC • Apr. 11, 2026

Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins came out to join in on a cover of his band’s mid-’90s alt-rock hit “1979,” which was more recently trending audio on TikTok and Instagram.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026

And in the end, Harold’s imperfect audio system happened to be the last note in the melody of coincidences that changed my life.

From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green

Related Words

• TV set
• box
• station
• video