sabinn.
/ˈseɪbɪn/, /ˈsabɪn/, U.S. /ˈseɪbən/ Acoustics.
A unit of sound absorption equal to the absorbing power of one square foot of perfectly absorbing surface; = open window unit n. at open adj. Compounds 3.
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the world > matter > physics > science of sound > [noun] > unit of sound absorption
open window unit1900
sabin1934
1934 Jrnl. Acoustical Soc. Amer. 6 101 Total absorption—600 units (Sabine—0·50 sec.).
1936 Gloss. Acoustical Terms (B.S.I.) 22 The unit of equivalent absorption is termed an absorption unit. When the unit of area is a square foot, this unit is called a sabin.
1956 IRE Trans. Audio 4 21 A is the absorption of the room in sabins.
1968 R. C. Stanley Light & Sound for Engineers xvi. 308 If the area of the surface is expressed in square feet, then the absorption is expressed in open window units or sabins.
1969 Daily Tel. 5 Nov. 5/1 The Professor assembled 10 miniskirted secretaries in a physics department's reverberation chamber... The 10 girls averaged a sabine count of 2·5 each, whereas a similar test in 1964, when skirts were longer, produced an average sabine count of 4·6. Twice as much sound was therefore absorbed in 1964.
1975 G. J. King Audio Handbk. i. 23 A room of total surface area 111·45 m2 (1200 ft2),..and 0·2 coefficient of absorbency, signifying that 20% of the sound is absorbed.., would have a total absorbency of almost 240 sabins.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1982; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1934