acoustic

C1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /əˈkuː.stɪk/ See IPA manual

Freq #16418

Meanings

1

adj
(of a musical instrument) producing sound naturally, without electrical amplification.

He prefers playing an acoustic guitar to an electric one.
2

adj
Relating to sound or the sense of hearing.

The room has excellent acoustic properties for recording.
3

noun
The qualities of a room or building that affect how sound is heard in it.

The cathedral's acoustic makes every whisper carry.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

2 adj · relating to sound or the... acoustical auditory

Word family

Derived forms acoustic-electricacoustical acousticallyacousticianacoustickyacousticnessacousticofacialacousticopalpebralacousticophobiaacousticsacousto-aeroacoustic

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

acoustic wave
a disturbance that carries sound through a material

Adjective + noun

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂ṓws Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱh₂owsyéti Proto-Hellenic *akóuhō Ancient Greek ἀκούω (akoúō) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ῐκός (-ĭkós) Ancient Greek ᾰ̓κουστῐκός (ăkoustĭkós)bor. Medieval Latin acousticusbor. English acoustic Borrowed from Medieval Latin acousticus, acūsticus, from Ancient Greek ἀκουστῐκός (akoustĭkós, “of or for hearing”), from ἀκούω (akoúō, “to hear”) + -ῐκός (-ĭkós, adjectival suffix).

acousticus la-med ἀκουστῐκός Ancient Greek

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Music Theory Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# acoustic

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** adj, noun
**IPA (US):** /əˈkuː.stɪk/
**Frequency rank:** 16418

## Meanings
1. (of a musical instrument) producing sound naturally, without electrical amplification.
2. Relating to sound or the sense of hearing.
3. The qualities of a room or building that affect how sound is heard in it.

## Examples
- He prefers playing an acoustic guitar to an electric one.
- The room has excellent acoustic properties for recording.
- The cathedral's acoustic makes every whisper carry.

## Derived Forms
- acoustic-electric
- acoustical
- acoustically
- acoustician
- acousticky
- acousticness
- acousticofacial
- acousticopalpebral
- acousticophobia
- acoustics
- acousto-
- aeroacoustic

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: acousticus
- Root: ἀκουστῐκός

## Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂ṓws Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱh₂owsyéti Proto-Hellenic *akóuhō Ancient Greek ἀκούω (akoúō) Proto-Indo-European *-kos Ancient Greek -κός (-kós) Ancient Greek -ῐκός (-ĭkós) Ancient Greek ᾰ̓κουστῐκός (ăkoustĭkós)bor. Medieval Latin acousticusbor. English acoustic Borrowed from Medieval Latin acousticus, acūsticus, from Ancient Greek ἀκουστῐκός (akoustĭkós, “of or for hearing”), from ἀκούω (akoúō, “to hear”) + -ῐκός (-ĭkós, adjectival suffix).

## AI Etymology
Acoustic is borrowed from Medieval Latin acousticus, acūsticus, from Ancient Greek ἀκουστῐκός (akoustĭkós, “of or for hearing”), from ἀκούω (akoúō, “to hear”) + -ῐκός (-ĭkós, adjectival suffix). The older chain passes through Proto-Indo-European *h₂eḱ- > Proto-Indo-European *h₂ew- > Proto-Indo-European *-s > Proto-Indo-European *h₂ṓws > Proto-Indo-European *-yéti > Proto-Indo-European *h₂ḱh₂owsyéti > Proto-Hellenic *akóuhō > Ancient Greek ἀκούω (akoúō). In present-day use, it can mean producing sound naturally, without electrical amplification, or relating to sound or the sense of hearing. Derived formations include acoustic-electric, acoustical, acoustically, acoustician, and acousticky.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Music Theory
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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