acoustic

[ uh-koo-stik ]
See synonyms for acoustic on Thesaurus.com
adjectiveAlso a·cous·ti·cal.
  1. pertaining to the sense or organs of hearing, to sound, or to the science of sound.

  2. (of a building material) designed for controlling sound.

  1. 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
  1. Obsolete. a remedy for deafness or imperfect hearing.

Origin of acoustic

1
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. 2024

How to use acoustic in a sentence

  • One, with a grand main chamber dramatically illuminated by candle niches, recently shared its acoustics during a concert.

    New Mexico’s Amazing Man-Made Caves | Nina Strochlic | December 12, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
  • In order to understand what follows we must make a short excursion into the realm of acoustics.

  • It is literally a falling off, and on the principles of acoustics must of necessity make the tone thin.

  • Here I've spent heaven knows how much on the acoustics of this theatre, and I can't make out a word she says.

    The Regent | E. Arnold Bennett
  • He had to devise his own governors for the synchronous mechanism, and here his knowledge of acoustics helped him.

  • But the courtrooms are stuffy little dens, illy ventilated, awkwardly placed, and with the poorest of acoustics.

    The Everett massacre | Walker C. Smith

British Dictionary definitions for acoustic

acoustic

acoustical

/ (əˈkuːstɪk) /


adjective
  1. of or related to sound, the sense of hearing, or acoustics

  2. designed to respond to, absorb, or control sound: an acoustic tile

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

Origin of acoustic

1
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