# ADC

CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/adc
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

Stands for Analog-to-Digital Converter. A piece of hardware that changes real-world signals, like sound or light, into numbers that a computer can understand.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Analog-to-Digital Converter. An electronic circuit or device that converts a continuous physical quantity, such as voltage, into a discrete digital number for processing by a computer.

## Examples

- The microphone uses an ADC to record your voice.
- High-quality audio recording requires an ADC with a high sampling rate to capture every detail of the performance.
- In modern telecommunications, the precision of the ADC determines the fidelity of the signal reconstruction, as any quantization error introduced during conversion cannot be fully reversed by software.

## Usage notes

- Commonly used as an acronym in technical documentation; often functions as a modifier in noun phrases like 'ADC chip' or 'ADC resolution'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.