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Glite Dictionary
psychoacoustics

psychoacoustics

1 7.9
The study of how people hear and understand sounds
  • noun
  • /ˌsaɪkoʊəˈkuːstɪks/
  • Specialized
translation icon : psicoacústica
  • INT. CIA PSYCHOACOUSTICS LAB -- DAY AN ELECTRONICS CONSOLE.

Examples

  • Understanding psychoacoustics can enhance audio experiences in films and music.

  • Researchers in psychoacoustics analyze the effects of sound on human emotions.

  • The study of psychoacoustics reveals how our brains interpret various sound frequencies.

How Perceptual

auditory perception
  • Specialized
1 4.5
psychoacoustics
  • Specialized
1 7.9
acoustics
  • Specialized
21 5.0

Surface Forms

psychoacoustics singular
psychoacoustics plural

Morphology

psychoacoustics = acoustics (semi-transparent) = psycho + acoustics

The meaning is fairly clear from psycho- ('mind') plus acoustics ('sound/hearing'), but it remains a technical term rather than an everyday composition.

Etymology

The word psychoacoustics joins psycho-, a Greek part meaning 'mind', as in psychology, and acoustics, a Greek word for 'hearing', as in acoustic. So, psychoacoustics is the study of how the mind hears and understands sounds.