audio
audio
Pronunciation
audio: /ˈɔːdiˌoʊ/
First Syllable (/ˈɔː/):
/ɔː/ as in "awe" or "caught"
Second Syllable (/di/):
/d/ as in "dog"
/i/ as in "bee" or "see"
Third Syllable (/oʊ/):
/oʊ/ as in "go" or "boat"
Word Form Variations
The term "audio" primarily functions as a noun or an adjective, and its variations are limited.
Noun:
Singular: audio
Plural: The plural form "audios" is sometimes used, particularly in technical contexts or when referring to multiple audio files or recordings. However, "audio" is often treated as an uncountable noun even when referring to multiple instances of sound.
Adjective:
"Audio" itself functions as an adjective and does not typically have comparative or superlative forms. It modifies other nouns (e.g., "audio equipment," "audio quality").
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition: Sound, especially when recorded, transmitted, or reproduced. It refers to the audible component of a broadcast, recording, or presentation, as distinct from the visual component.
Synonyms: sound, acoustics, sonic information, audibility
Antonyms: visual, video, image, picture
Definition: The electronic equipment or system used for the recording, transmission, or reproduction of sound.
Synonyms: sound system, stereo, hi-fi, sound equipment, public address system
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as this refers to a type of equipment. One could consider "visual equipment" as a conceptual opposite.)
Adjective
Definition: Relating to sound or hearing. Describes anything pertaining to the creation, transmission, reception, or reproduction of sound.
Synonyms: sonic, auditory, acoustic, sound-related
Antonyms: visual, optical, tactile, haptic
Examples of Use
Books:
"The detective meticulously examined the surveillance footage, paying close attention to the muffled audio that accompanied the grainy visuals." (Example from a crime novel)
"In The Recording Engineer's Handbook, Bobby Owsinski details techniques for achieving optimal audio clarity in studio productions."
Newspapers:
"New court documents reveal previously unreleased audio recordings from the crucial witness interview." ( The New York Times)
"Experts are analyzing the black box audio to determine the cause of the airline incident." (The Guardian)
Online Publications:
"Spotify announced new features designed to enhance the personalized audio experience for its premium subscribers." (TechCrunch)
"Our latest review covers the best noise-cancelling headphones, focusing on their audio performance across various music genres." (CNET)
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
"The film's immersive audio design transported the audience directly into the heart of the jungle." (Movie review on Rotten Tomatoes)
"Listeners can now enjoy exclusive bonus audio content, including behind-the-scenes interviews, on our podcast platform." (Advertisement for a podcast on Apple Podcasts)
"Gamers often invest in high-quality audio setups to fully appreciate the intricate soundscapes of modern video games." (Gaming forum discussion)
"Alexa, play some relaxing audio for bedtime." (Voice command to an Amazon Echo device)
General Public Discourse:
"My car's audio system has been acting up, the bass sounds really distorted." (Casual conversation between friends)
"Could you please check if the audio is working on this presentation? I can't hear anything." (Colleague in a meeting)
"I prefer listening to audio books during my commute; it's a great way to catch up on reading." (Personal preference shared in a discussion)
10 Quotes Using Audio
"Lovers of audio books learn to live with compromise." (David Sedaris, The New Yorker, December 2010)
"The beautiful thing about hip-hop is it's like an audio collage." (Talib Kweli)
"We have so much access to video and audio recording equipment that it's kind of the new pen and paper." (Hannah Hart)
"You get to bring your own sound system when you play an arena, all the lights and visual stuff, which I think is really cool. There's something about those old arenas, where it feels larger than life." (Dan Auerbach)
"If I go to a nightclub, even if the music is good, if the sound system is not, I don't stay." (Eric Ripert)
"When the Grateful Dead needed a quality sound system to deliver our sonic payload, I learned electronics and speaker design." (Mickey Hart, The Huffington Post, March 2011)
"I think that audio and video over the internet in the sense of teleconferencing and telephone calls. Maybe we'll actually have picture phone through your work station." (Jon Postel)
"At the same time, one of the things I noticed was that the moment there was any kind of audio attached to virtual reality, it really improved the experience, even though the audio didn't feel like a sound engineer or composer had been anywhere near it." (Thomas Dolby)
"But audio is a component of video, so there's always been that anyway, and although we've never expressed a visual side apart from the Grateful Dead movie, I don't find it that remote, you know what I mean?" (Jerry Garcia)
"I love audio books, and when I paint I'm always listening to a book." (Thomas Kinkade)
Etymology
The word "audio" comes from Latin. It's directly from the Latin word "audīre," which means "to hear."
Think of words like "auditory" (relating to hearing) or "audience" (a group of people who hear a performance) – they all share this same Latin root.
The first known uses of "audio" in English, specifically as a combining form, started appearing in the early 20th century, particularly with the rise of technology for recording and transmitting sound. For example, you'd see terms like "audio-frequency."
By the 1930s, "audio" started to be used as a standalone noun to refer to the sound component itself, especially in radio and film, distinguishing it from the visual part. So, its meaning evolved from simply "to hear" into referring to the sound itself or equipment related to sound.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Audio
Audio frequency: A range of frequencies audible to the human ear.
Audio-visual (AV): Pertaining to both sound and sight.
Audio clip: A short segment of recorded sound.
Audio track: A continuous recording of sound, especially on a film or video.
Audio description: A narration service for blind and visually impaired consumers of media.
Crisp audio: Clear and sharp sound quality.
Muffled audio: Sound that is indistinct or dulled.
To go silent on the audio: To stop speaking or transmitting sound.
In earshot: Within hearing distance (using a synonym).
To lend an ear: To listen attentively (using a synonym).
To turn a deaf ear: To ignore something (using a synonym).
Sound and fury: Much commotion about something insignificant (using a synonym).
To make some noise: To create a stir or attract attention (using a synonym).
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of audio from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
