# acoustic
## English
### Alternative forms

* acoustick (obsolete)
* acoustical

### Etymology

Borrowed from Medieval Latin acūsticus, acousticos, from Ancient Greek ἀκουστῐκός (akoustĭkós, “of or for hearing”), from ἀκούω (akoúō, “to hear”) +‎ -ῐκός (-ĭkós, adjectival suffix). Sense 4 ("autistic") was popularized on TikTok in late October 2023. Doublet of hear.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /əˈkuː.stɪk/
* Audio:(file)
* Rhymes: -uːstɪk

### Adjective

acoustic (not comparable)
* Pertaining to the sense of hearing, the organs of hearing, or the science of sounds.
    Synonym: auditory
** (architecture, of building materials) Used for soundproofing or modifying sound.
** (of a device or system) Using sound energy in its operation.
** (weaponry, of an explosive mine or other weapon) Able to be set off by sound waves.
* (music) Naturally producing or produced by an instrument without electrical amplification or the need thereof.
    acoustic guitar, acoustic piano
    Coordinate term: unplugged
* (humorous or proscribed) Non-electric; mechanical.
    acoustic bike
** 2022 May 19, “How to Get Started Biking”, in Wired‎:For a lot of people, riding a bike through a crowded city—or even on suburban avenues—might feel daunting. Should you get an electric or acoustic bicycle?
* (Internet slang) Euphemistic form of autistic.
    Synonym: artistic
** 2014 November 22, u/Victorboris1, “anon is acoustic”, in Reddit‎, r/4chan, archived from the original on 5 December 2023:Implying mathematicians aren't acoustic. I'm an engineer, and even mathematicians freak me out with their autism.
** 2017 May 14, “Are ADHD spinners /ourtoy/ ?”, in Reddit‎, r/4chan, archived from the original on 5 December 2023:Spinners are for severely acoustic children
** [2023 July 7, “Anon is a little acoustic”, in Reddit‎, r/4chan, archived from the original on 5 December 2023:I explained I got a 3 day ban for calling someone acoustic because it's bullying/harassment, hence the use of acoustic.]
** 2023 December 2, @ScarletGodzilla, Twitter‎, archived from the original on 5 December 2023:cant stand self diagnosed acoustic people ☠️
** 2023 December 4, @yeahabsolutelyy, Twitter‎, archived from the original on 5 December 2023:the whole "is he acoustic" tiktok comment shit is so fucking annoying and just ableist at this point and i'm so sick of it

#### Derived terms

* acoustic admittance
* acoustical
* acoustically
* acoustic barrier
* acoustic bass
* acoustic bass guitar
* acoustic bassist
* acoustic coupler
* acoustic-electric
* acoustic emission
* acoustic energy
* acoustic guitar
* acoustic guitarist
* acoustician
* acoustic impedance
* acoustic interferometer
* acoustic jamming
* acousticky
* acoustic meatus
* acoustic mirror
* acoustic model
* acoustic nerve
* acousticness
* acoustic neuroma
* acousticofacial
* acousticopalpebral
* acousticophobia
* acoustic perfume
* acoustic rock
* acoustics
* acoustic shadow
* acoustic shock
* acoustic traveltime
* acousto-
* aeroacoustic
* anacoustic
* archaeoacoustic
* baryon acoustic oscillation
* bioacoustic
* catacoustic
* diacoustic
* echoacoustic
* ecoacoustic
* electroacoustic
* geoacoustic
* hydroacoustic
* magnetoacoustic
* mechanoacoustic
* microacoustic
* nonacoustic
* optoacoustic
* otacoustic
* otoacoustic
* photoacoustic
* physioacoustic
* polyacoustic
* psychoacoustic
* semiacoustic
* semi-acoustic
* subacoustic
* superacoustic
* thermoacoustic
* unacoustic
* vestibuloacoustic
* vibracoustic
* vibroacoustic

#### Translations

    The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

### Noun

acoustic (plural acoustics)
* (usually in the plural) The properties or qualities of a room or building that determine how sound is transmitted in it.
* (medicine) A medicine or other agent to assist hearing.
* Clipping of acoustic guitar.

#### Translations
### References

* ↑ “Acoustic (Slang)”, in Know Your Meme, website first launched 2007

### Further reading

* “acoustic”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.
* “acoustic”, in Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.