acoustic

adjective

acous·​tic ə-ˈkü-stik 

variants or acoustical

ə-ˈkü-sti-kəl 

1

: of or relating to the sense or organs of hearing, to sound, or to the science of sounds

acoustic apparatus of the ear

acoustic energy

: such as

a

: deadening or absorbing sound

acoustic tile

b

: operated by or utilizing sound waves

2

: of, relating to, or being a musical instrument whose sound is not electronically modified

acoustically

ə-ˈkü-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• audial
• audile
• auditory
• aural
• auricular

Examples of acoustic in a Sentence

the acoustic properties of a room

She loves listening to acoustic folk music.

an acoustic performance of a rock-and-roll song

Recent Examples on the Web

The 14-song set features work from Cobb (acoustic guitar, eclectic guitar), J.T. Cure (bass), Paul Franklin (pedal steel), Derek Mixon (drums), Morgane (background vocals, synthesizer, tambourine) and Lee Pardini (organ, piano). —Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 14 Apr. 2024

There were no more arena shows or even acoustic shows. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024

The coast guard hosted a dinner for residents and played acoustic guitar to entertain residents, one of the efforts to normalize life on the island. —Emily Feng, NPR, 11 Apr. 2024

Vocals benefit from a blend of low-mid richness and high-mid clarity, while the acoustic strums have a reasonable amount of higher-frequency detail. —PCMAG, 11 Apr. 2024

On the title track, Rose swaps keys for his first love, the acoustic guitar. —Sarah Grant, SPIN, 10 Apr. 2024

Now a new paper published in Royal Society Open Science uses genetic, behavioral, morphological and acoustic data to argue that the orcas in the North Pacific known as residents and transients are different enough to be distinct species. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024

Higher trims will get extras like a noise-insulating acoustic windshield as well as heated and ventilated seats too, things not commonly found in mainstream-brand competitors. —Alex Kwanten, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2024

Klan 414 continues to proudly wave the flag for the exciting new wave of regional Mexican music with this delightfully dreamy love song powered by tender croons and radiant acoustic guitar lines. —Journal Sentinel, 1 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

acoustic borrowed from Medieval Latin acousticus, acūsticus, borrowed from Greek akoustikós, from akoustós "heard, audible" (verbal adjective of akoúein "to hear," going back to Indo-European h₂kous-) + -ikos -ic entry 1; acoustical from acoustic + -al entry 1 — more at hear

First Known Use

1635, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing acoustic

• acoustic emission

Kids Definition

acoustic

adjective

acous·​tic ə-ˈkü-stik 

variants or acoustical

-sti-kəl 

1

: of or relating to the sense or organs of hearing, to sound, or to the science of sounds: as

a

: deadening or absorbing sound

b

: operated by or using sound waves

2

: of, relating to, or being a musical instrument whose sound is not electronically modified

acoustic guitar

acoustically

-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

acoustic

adjective

acous·​tic ə-ˈkü-stik 

variants or acoustical

-sti-kəl 

: of or relating to the sense or organs of hearing, to sound, or to the science of sounds

acoustic apparatus of the ear

acoustic energy

: as

a

: deadening or absorbing sound

acoustic tile

b

: operated by or utilizing sound waves

acoustically

-k(ə-)lē 

adverb