Inaudibility: meaning, definitions and examples

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inaudibility

 

[ ɪnˈɔː.dɪ.bɪl.ɪ.ti ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

sound quality

Inaudibility refers to the quality or state of being inaudible, that is, the inability to be heard. It often describes sounds that are too faint or distant for human ears to perceive clearly. Inaudibility may occur due to various factors, such as low volume, high frequency, or environmental noise that masks the sound. Understanding inaudibility is important in fields like acoustics, audio engineering, and communication, where the clarity of sound can significantly affect understanding and interaction.

Synonyms

imperceptibility, muteness, quietness, silence

Examples of usage

  • The inaudibility of the whisper was frustrating during the meeting.
  • Certain frequencies can fall below the limit of inaudibility for humans.
  • The inaudibility of the background noise made the recording clearer.
  • Inaudibility can become a concern in large auditoriums.

Translations

Translations of the word "inaudibility" in other languages:

🇵🇹 inaudibilidade

🇮🇳 अश्रव्यता

🇩🇪 Unhörbarkeit

🇮🇩 ketidakdengaran

🇺🇦 недочутність

🇵🇱 niedosłyszalność

🇯🇵 聞こえないこと

🇫🇷 inaudibilité

🇪🇸 inaudibilidad

🇹🇷 duyulmazlık

🇰🇷 듣지 못함

🇸🇦 عدم السماع

🇨🇿 neslyšitelnost

🇸🇰 nepočuteľnosť

🇨🇳 不可听性

🇸🇮 neslišnost

🇮🇸 óheyranleiki

🇰🇿 есте алмайтындық

🇬🇪 არასმენადობა

🇦🇿 eşidilməzlik

🇲🇽 inaudibilidad

Etymology

The term 'inaudibility' is derived from the Latin word 'inaudibilis', which combines the prefix 'in-' meaning 'not' and 'audibilis' meaning 'audible' or 'able to be heard'. The Latin 'audire' means 'to hear', and from this root, English has derived various terms related to hearing and sound. 'Inaudible' appeared in Middle English, influenced by earlier forms from Old French, and it became commonplace in various expressive forms around the 14th century. The transition into 'inaudibility' as a noun maintains the root meanings while emphasizing the quality of not being heard, essentially expanding the term's use in literature and scientific contexts in the ensuing centuries. It highlights the evolution of language as it adapts to discuss nuances in sound perception, particularly in the realms of acoustics and communication.