An acoustic guitar or other instrument is one whose sound is produced without any electrical equipment.
acoustically (əkuːstɪkli)adverb
...acoustically based music.
2. countable noun
If you refer to the acoustics or the acoustic of a space, you are referring to the structural features which determine how well you can hear music or speech in it.
The acoustics of the main auditorium are stunning.
acousticallyadverb [ADVERB adjective]
The church is acoustically perfect.
3. uncountable noun
Acoustics is the scientific study of sound.
4. adjective [ADJECTIVE noun]
Acoustic means relating to sound or hearing. Compare aural.
...acoustic signals.
acoustic in British English
(əˈkuːstɪk) or acoustical
adjective
1.
of or related to sound, the sense of hearing, or acoustics
2.
designed to respond to, absorb, or control sound
an acoustic tile
3.
(of a musical instrument or recording) without electronic amplification
an acoustic bass
an acoustic guitar
Derived forms
acoustically (aˈcoustically)
adverb
Word origin
C17: from Greek akoustikos, from akouein to hear
acoustic in American English
(əˈkustɪk)
adjective
1.
having to do with hearing or with sound as it is heard
2.
of acoustics
3.
a.
designating a musical instrument, usually a string instrument, whose tones are not electronically amplified
b.
employing such an instrument or instruments
Word origin
Fr acoustique < Gr akoustikos, of or for hearing < akouein, to hear < a- (< ?) + IE base *keu-, to heed, hear
Examples of 'acoustic' in a sentence
acoustic
Expect a fine balance of the acoustic and the electronic.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The trio got through the Absolute Radio gig unscathed with a top acoustic set near the altar.
The Sun (2017)
One last chance to hear the band play their acclaimed acoustic set before they plug in.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
With that came the entertainment of piano or acoustic guitar and songs.
The Sun (2010)
When the front line switched to acoustic instruments the music finally began to breathe.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Listen out for impromptu acoustic sets in the camp site after dark.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
We performed three of our songs with acoustic guitars.
The Sun (2014)
What prompted you to move from ambient techno to acoustic music?
The Sun (2012)
The four remaining couples are challenged to perform an acoustic song.
The Sun (2006)
They wanted to strip down and play acoustic music.
The Sun (2008)
Broadly speaking, the sound is acoustic guitar folk dappled with strings and effects.
The Sun (2007)
There's more to life than gently strumming an acoustic guitar though.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
And the recording acoustic is close, natural and loving.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Few play an acoustic guitar with such force, which makes his solo radio spots surprisingly effective.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
It's acoustic songs that mean something to me.
The Sun (2011)
YOUR acoustic guitar playing sets you apart from most rappers.
The Sun (2006)
Backed only by acoustic guitar plucking, his songs have the ability to put the troubles of the world into soft focus.
The Sun (2011)
The pop king spent around 20 minutes with each pupil listening to their work and playing along with them on an acoustic guitar.
The Sun (2006)
But it went for little, alas, in the church acoustic.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Dry acoustic sounds alongside more ethereal, unusual noises, all wrapped around carefully arranged songs.
The Sun (2009)
One star is lost through the recording acoustic: this score deserves depth and bloom, not claustrophobia.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
He said: 'I have been out on the road over the past couple of weeks playing some acoustic sets.
The Sun (2007)
This also fits plans for their new album, which I told you yesterday will be of acoustic recordings in a church.
The Sun (2009)
These days the choice of guitars, keyboards, acoustic and electronic drums is so wide that the best advice is try them out at your local dealer.
Aiken, Nick Working with Teenagers (1994)
In other languages
acoustic
British English: acoustic /əˈkuːstɪk/ ADJECTIVE
An acoustic musical instrument is one which is not electric.
...an acoustic guitar.
American English: acoustic
Arabic: سَمْعِيّ
Brazilian Portuguese: acústico
Chinese: 声学的
Croatian: akustičan
Czech: akustický
Danish: akustisk
Dutch: akoestisch
European Spanish: acústico
Finnish: akustinen
French: acoustique
German: akustisch
Greek: ακουστικός
Italian: acustico
Japanese: 聴覚の
Korean: 소리의
Norwegian: akustisk
Polish: akustyczny
European Portuguese: acústico
Romanian: acustic
Russian: акустический
Latin American Spanish: acústico
Swedish: akustisk
Thai: ซึ่งเกี่ยวข้องกับเสียง
Turkish: akustik
Ukrainian: акустичний
Vietnamese: không dùng điện
British English: acoustic NOUN
If you refer to the acoustics or the acoustic of a space, you are referring to the structural features which determine how well you can hear music or speech in it.
In this performance, he had the acoustics of the auditorium on his side.
American English: acoustic
Brazilian Portuguese: acústica
Chinese: 传声效果
European Spanish: acústica
French: acoustique
German: Akustik
Italian: acustica
Japanese: 音響効果
Korean: 음향 효과
European Portuguese: acústica
Latin American Spanish: acústica
All related terms of 'acoustic'
acoustic hood
a type of shield that fits around electronic and other equipment , which reduces the noise generated when that equipment is being used
acoustic horn
either of a pair of permanent outgrowths on the heads of cattle , antelopes , sheep , etc, consisting of a central bony core covered with layers of keratin
acoustic guitar
an ordinary guitar , which produces its normal sound through the sounding board and is not amplified in any way
acoustic music
Music is the pattern of sounds produced by people singing or playing instruments.
acoustic nerve
either one of the eight pairs of cranial nerves that supply the cochlea and semicircular canals of the internal ear and contribute to the sense of hearing
acoustic screen
a fabric-covered, double-sided screen used in open areas such as offices to absorb noise
acoustic shock
a condition characterized by dizziness and partial hearing loss suffered by some people exposed to sudden loud noises over telephone or radio headsets ; associated esp with workers in call centres
acoustic coupler
a device converting computer-data signals into acoustic form for transmission down a telephone line, through the handset microphone
acoustic feature
any of the acoustic components or elements present in a speech sound and capable of being experimentally observed , recorded , and reproduced
acoustic feedback
a type of feedback that is created when there is a sound loop linking an audio input and an audio output , such that a high-pitched squealing sound is produced
acoustic impedance
a measure of the opposition to the flow of an alternating current equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of the resistance and the reactance , expressed in ohms
acoustic neuroma
a benign brain tumour of the vestibulocochlear nerve , one of the nerves connecting the ear to the brain, which can cause hearing and balance problems
acoustic phonetics
the branch of phonetics concerned with the acoustic properties of human speech
acoustic gramophone
a device for reproducing the sounds stored on a record: now usually applied to the nearly obsolete type that uses a clockwork motor and acoustic horn
acoustic regeneration
a type of feedback that is created when there is a sound loop linking an audio input and an audio output , such that a high-pitched squealing sound is produced
surface acoustic wave
an acoustic wave generated on the surface of a piezoelectric substrate : used as a filter in electronic circuits
saw
Saw is the past tense of → see .
horn
On a vehicle such as a car , the horn is the device that makes a loud noise as a signal or warning.
auditory nerve
either of the eighth pair of cranial nerves , which connect the ear with the brain and carry impulses relating to sound and balance
vestibulocochlear nerve
either one of the eight pairs of cranial nerves that supply the cochlea and semicircular canals of the internal ear and contribute to the sense of hearing
gramophone
A gramophone is an old-fashioned type of record player.
impedance
a measure of the opposition to the flow of an alternating current equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of the resistance and the reactance , expressed in ohms
mechanical impedance
a measure of the opposition to the flow of an alternating current equal to the square root of the sum of the squares of the resistance and the reactance , expressed in ohms