acoustics

Sound waves from a stage are deflected by sound panels and distributed throughout an auditorium.

a·cous·tics

(ə-ko͞o′stĭks)

1. (used with a sing. verb) The scientific study of sound, especially of its generation, transmission, and reception.

2. (used with a pl. verb) The total effect of sound, especially as produced in an enclosed space: "Such annoyances are frequently caused by flaws in the acoustics rather than the performers" (Mel Gussow).

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

acoustics

(əˈkuːstɪks)

1. (General Physics) (functioning as singular) the scientific study of sound and sound waves

2. (General Physics) (functioning as plural) the characteristics of a room, auditorium, etc, that determine the fidelity with which sound can be heard within it

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

a•cous•tics

(əˈku stɪks)

n.

1. (used with a sing. v.) the branch of physics that deals with sound and sound waves.

2. (used with a pl. v.) the qualities or characteristics of a room, auditorium, stadium, etc., that determine the audibility or fidelity of sounds in it.

[1675–85]

acoustics

Sound waves from a stage are deflected by sound panels and distributed throughout an auditorium.

a·cous·tics

(ə-ko͞o′stĭks)

1. (Used with a singular verb) The scientific study of sound and its transmission.

2. (Used with a plural verb) The total effect of sound, especially as produced in an enclosed space: a concert hall with excellent acoustics.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

acoustics

1. Physics. the study of sound and sound waves.
2. the qualities or characteristics of a space, as an auditorium, that deter-mine the audibility and fidelity of sounds in it. — acoustician, n. — acoustic, adj.

acoustics

The study of sound waves.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

acoustics - the study of the physical properties of sound

acoustic radiation pressure - (acoustics) the pressure exerted on a surface normal to the direction of propagation of a sound wave

physical science, physics - the physical properties, phenomena, and laws of something; "he studied the physics of radiation"

harmonics - the study of musical sound

phonetics - the branch of acoustics concerned with speech processes including its production and perception and acoustic analysis

acoustic wave, sound wave - (acoustics) a wave that transmits sound

reflect, reverberate - to throw or bend back (from a surface); "Sound is reflected well in this auditorium"

Translations

akustika

akustik

Akustik

acústica

akustiikka

acoustique

akusztika

hljóîeîlisfræîi; hljómburîarfræîihljómburîur

音響音響学

akustika

akustik

akustikfizikte yankı bilimikapalı bir yerde seslerin dağılım biçimiyankılanım

acoustics

[əˈkuːstɪks] N

1. (with sing vb) (Phys) → acústica f

2. (with pl vb) [of hall etc] → acústica f

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

acoustics

[əˈkuːstɪks] n → acoustique f

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

acoustics

sing (subject) → Akustik f

pl (of room etc) → Akustik f

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

acoustics

[əˈkuːstɪks]

1. nsg (Phys) → acustica

2. npl (of room) → acustica nsg

acoustic

(əˈkuːstik) adjective

having to do with hearing or with sound. This hall has acoustic problems.

aˈcoustics

1. noun plural the characteristics (eg of a room or hall) which make hearing in it good or bad.

2. noun singular the science of sound.

a·cous·tics

n. acústica, la ciencia de los sonidos, su producción, transmisión y efectos.

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

It was no more than the gentle TWANG of a clock-spring; but it was the first time in the history of the world that a complete sound had been carried along a wire, reproduced perfectly at the other end, and heard by an expert in acoustics.

He was a teacher of acoustics and a student of electricity, possibly the only man in his generation who was able to focus a knowledge of both subjects upon the problem of the telephone.

Bell was illustrating some of the mysteries of acoustics by the aid of a piano.

And he grappled with this new mystery of electricity, as Henry had advised him to do, encouraging himself with the fact that Morse, who was only a painter, had mastered his electrical difficulties, and there was no reason why a professor of acoustics should not do as much.

He cross-fertilized the two sciences of acoustics and electricity.

View in context

This doctor therefore proposed, "that upon the meeting of the senate, certain physicians should attend it the three first days of their sitting, and at the close of each day's debate feel the pulses of every senator; after which, having maturely considered and consulted upon the nature of the several maladies, and the methods of cure, they should on the fourth day return to the senate house, attended by their apothecaries stored with proper medicines; and before the members sat, administer to each of them lenitives, aperitives, abstersives, corrosives, restringents, palliatives, laxatives, cephalalgics, icterics, apophlegmatics, acoustics, as their several cases required; and, according as these medicines should operate, repeat, alter, or omit them, at the next meeting."

View in context

Conservatives cherished it for being small and inconvenient, and thus keeping out the "new people" whom New York was beginning to dread and yet be drawn to; and the sentimental clung to it for its historic associations, and the musical for its excellent acoustics, always so problematic a quality in halls built for the hearing of music.

View in context

Micawber was good enough to sing us (in a small, thin, flat voice, which I remembered to have considered, when I first knew her, the very table-beer of acoustics) the favourite ballads of

View in context

Then he remembered that there are natural phenomena to which some one has given the name "acoustic shadows." If you stand in an acoustic shadow there is one direction from which you will hear nothing.

View in context

They drank to the earth and to her satellite, to the Gun Club, the Union, the Moon, Diana, Phoebe, Selene, the "peaceful courier of the night!" All the hurrahs, carried upward upon the sonorous waves of the immense acoustic tube, arrived with the sound of thunder at its mouth; and the multitude ranged round Stones Hill heartily united their shouts with those of the ten revelers hidden from view at the bottom of the gigantic Columbiad.

View in context

That's what YOU say to a man of that sort; and if you didn't say it, more shame for you!' Mr Pancks here made a singular and startling noise, produced by a strong blowing effort in the region of the nose, unattended by any result but that acoustic one.

View in context

These rapid remarks, murmured as they were, struck his ear by one of those acoustic rebounds which are very little studied.

View in context