US /əˈkuː.stɪk/
adj noun Freq #16418

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

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

    He prefers playing an acoustic guitar to an electric one.

  2. 2
    adj

    Relating to sound or the sense of hearing.

    The room has excellent acoustic properties for recording.

  3. 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... acousticalauditory
Word family
Derived forms acoustic-electricacousticalacousticallyacousticianacoustickyacousticnessacousticofacialacousticopalpebralacousticophobiaacousticsacousto-aeroacoustic

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).

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