Word
ultrasonic
Phoneticsul·tra·son·ic, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌəɫtɹəˈsɑnɪk/
UK/ˌʊltɹɐsˈɒnɪk/
Definition
adj. describing sound waves that are too high for humans to hear. You often hear about this in medicine or when talking about how animals like bats communicate.
adj. relating to sound waves with a frequency above the upper limit of human hearing, typically exceeding 20 kilohertz. Often describes diagnostic imaging or industrial cleaning processes.
Examples
“The doctor uses an ultrasonic scanner to see the baby.”
“Bats navigate through the dark forest by emitting ultrasonic pulses and listening for the echoes.”
“Engineers employed ultrasonic testing to detect microscopic cracks in the aircraft's fuselage that were invisible to the naked eye.”
Examples
simple
“The doctor uses an ultrasonic scanner to see the baby.”
contextual
“Bats navigate through the dark forest by emitting ultrasonic pulses and listening for the echoes.”
complex
“Engineers employed ultrasonic testing to detect microscopic cracks in the aircraft's fuselage that were invisible to the naked eye.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “ultrasonic” in context.
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun.
Real-World Examples
“This technique has been especially powerful in realms where humans cannot stay for long, or for species that emit infrasonic or ultrasonic sounds beyond human hearing range (20- 20,000 Hz).” “The SMACs were stable in air and survived being bathed in a highly acidic solution for hours under harsh ultrasonic vibrations without breaking.” Etymology
From ultra- + sonic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/ultrasonic