acoustics
part of speech
noun (acoustics — plural for a room; uncountable for the science)
meaning for a pupil
1) The acoustics of a room or building are the way sound travels and is heard in it: good acoustics mean music and speech sound clear. tree →
2) Acoustics is the science of sound: how it is made, how it travels and how we hear it. tree →
sense in the lessons
In science lessons on sound, pupils learn that hard surfaces reflect sound (echoes) and soft ones (curtains, carpets) absorb it; that is why halls and theatres are built with care. In music, concert halls are praised for their acoustics. Phrases: «good acoustics», «poor acoustics», «the acoustics of the hall».
examples
- The cathedral has amazing acoustics, so the choir sounds beautiful. tree →
- The school hall has poor acoustics; it's hard to hear at the back. tree →
- Acoustics is the science of sound. tree →
- Soft curtains improve the acoustics of a room. tree →
- The Sydney Opera House was designed with special attention to acoustics. tree →
- In the empty gym, the acoustics made our voices echo. tree →
note
Grammar trap: about a place it is plural — «The acoustics are good»; as the name of a science it is singular — «Acoustics is a branch of physics». Say «a-KOO-stiks». Adjective: acoustic (as in an acoustic guitar, which is not electric).
Trees and pragmatics
Every meaning and example of «acoustics» parsed by Mova, each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.