Meaning & use
acoustic
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Meanings
adjectivenot comparablephysics
Relating to sound, hearing, or how sound travels and is heard in a space.
Grammar: Usually before a noun: acoustic properties; scientific use is non-gradable.
Patterns
- acoustic properties
- acoustic design
- acoustic measurements
The studio measured the acoustic properties of the new hall.
Soft curtains improved the acoustic quality of the classroom.
adjectivenot comparablemusic
Producing sound without electronic amplification, unlike an electric version.
Grammar: Always before a noun in this sense: an acoustic guitar, not usually very acoustic.
Patterns
- acoustic guitar
- acoustic version
- acoustic set
She prefers an acoustic guitar for songwriting.
The band played an acoustic set after the power failed.
Common combinations
- acoustic guitar
- He practiced chords on an acoustic guitar every evening.
- acoustic properties
- Engineers tested the acoustic properties of the lecture hall.
- acoustic version
- The singer released a quieter acoustic version of the single.
Synonyms and how they differ
- unplugged
- Unplugged is informal for instruments played without amplification; acoustic is the standard adjective.
- auditory
- Auditory concerns hearing broadly, while acoustic concerns sound behavior and equipment.
Opposites
Word family
- acoustics noun
- The science of sound, or the sound qualities of a room.
- acoustically adverb
- In a way related to sound.
Commonly confused: acoustic or acoustics?
acoustic vs acoustics
Acoustic is the adjective; acoustics is the noun for the science or room sound qualities.
Practice
Which phrase is natural?
Choose one answer.
An acoustic violin is not electronically amplified. An amplifier is electronic by function, and battery/app update do not fit the instrument sense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “acoustic”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.