acoustic
- 01 B1 Intermediate
adj.describing a musical instrument that makes sound naturally without using electricity or an amplifier.
adj.relating to musical instruments that produce sound through natural resonance rather than electronic amplification.
Simple“He played an acoustic guitar during the small campfire party.”
In context“The band decided to record an acoustic version of their hit single to showcase the lead singer's raw vocal talent.”
UsageUsually precedes the noun it modifies.
Antonyms - 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
adj.related to the sense of hearing or the science of sound.
adj.pertaining to the physical properties of sound or the biological mechanics of the auditory system.
Simple“The doctor checked his acoustic nerve to see why his hearing was fading.”
In context“The research facility was designed with advanced acoustic sensors to detect even the slightest vibrations in the earth's crust.”
- 03 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the qualities of a room or building that affect how easy it is to hear sounds in it.
n.the physical characteristics of a space that determine the fidelity and transmission of sound within it.
Simple“The old church has wonderful acoustics for choir music.”
In context“Architects must carefully consider the acoustics of a lecture hall to ensure that the speaker's voice carries clearly to the back row.”
UsageAlmost always used in the plural form 'acoustics' when referring to a room's properties.
Synonymsresonancesound quality - 04 C1 Advanced
adj.a funny way to describe something that is manual or simple instead of high-tech.
adj.used humorously to describe mechanical or non-electronic versions of modern digital tools.
Simple“I used an acoustic map because my phone battery died.”
In context“In an age of tablets and styluses, he still prefers the acoustic experience of a fountain pen and a paper notebook.”
Teacher's tipThis is a playful, modern use of the word; it compares a physical object to an 'unplugged' instrument.
Usage acoustic guitar · acoustic monitoring
Borrowed from Medieval Latin acousticus, acūsticus, from Ancient Greek ἀκουστῐκός (akoustĭkós, “of or for hearing”), from ἀκούω (akoúō, “to hear”) + -ῐκός (-ĭkós, adjectival suffix).
Due to the shared metrical structure of autistic and acoustic. Popularized on TikTok in late October 2023.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.