Acoustic

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /əˈkuː.stɪk/

Definitions

1. Relating to sound, its properties, or the sense of hearing
2. Pertaining to sound and its qualities, as well as the perception of auditory stimuli
3. Associated with the characteristics of sound and the experience of hearing it

Etymology: The Greek verb "akouein" meant "to hear," and from it came "akoustikos," meaning "of or for hearing." Medieval Latin scholars borrowed it as "acousticus," and English took the word from that Latin form. Its sense has stayed close to its origin: anything relating to sound, hearing, or the way sound behaves in a space. The word's most recent fame is a surprise. In late October 2023 it went viral on TikTok, not because of any new meaning but because of its rhythm. "Acoustic" shares its metrical shape with "autistic," and that resemblance led people to use it as a playful stand-in for the other word, a substitution that spread widely online.

Synonyms: auditory, sound-related, sonic, aural, audio

Antonyms: nonacoustic, silent, inaudible, noisy, muffled