SN ratio

Meanings

1. 1nouncountabletechnical

   A measure of how strong a wanted signal is compared with unwanted background noise.

   Grammar: Often written with the abbreviation SN; the full form is signal-to-noise ratio.

   Patterns

   • a high SN ratio
   • a low SN ratio
   • improve the SN ratio

   The new microphone gives a much higher SN ratio than the old one.

   Engineers try to improve the SN ratio so that faint signals are not lost in the static.

   A poor SN ratio made the recording sound fuzzy.

2. 2nouncountablefigurative

   A comparison of useful information with irrelevant or distracting material in any message or data set.

   Grammar: Used figuratively in writing about communication, meetings, and social media.

   Patterns

   • the SN ratio of something
   • raise the SN ratio

   The SN ratio of that email thread was terrible: one useful line and fifty jokes.

   Editors try to raise the SN ratio by cutting anything that does not help the reader.

Word forms

Common combinations

high SN ratio

A high SN ratio means the wanted signal stands out clearly.

low SN ratio

Background hum caused a low SN ratio.

improve the SN ratio

They added shielding to improve the SN ratio.

measure the SN ratio

The lab measures the SN ratio of every amplifier.

Synonyms and how they differ

signal-to-noise ratio

The full, formal name of the same measurement; use it in writing where the abbreviation has not been explained.

Word family

signal-to-noise ratio noun

The spelled-out form of SN ratio.

Commonly confused: SN ratio or S/N ratio?

Practice

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