noise

1 of 2

noun

ˈnȯiz 

plural noises

1

a

: sound entry 1

We heard unusual noises in the attic.

especially : one that lacks an agreeable quality or is noticeably unpleasant or loud

traffic noise

… the City of Los Angeles proper has outlawed the use of blowers, citing the noise and dust they kick up as environmental hazards.

—Marc Cooper

… this research doesn't specifically address noise-induced hearing loss, which is either caused by a single exposure to extremely loud sounds such as an explosion or by repeated exposure to loud or very loud sounds, such as blaring music.

—Washington Post

see also noise pollution

b

: any sound that is undesired or interferes with one's hearing of something

I couldn't hear him over all the noise.

c

: loud, confused, or senseless shouting or outcry

the noise of the demonstrators

d

: the characteristic natural or routine sound or sounds of something (such as an animal or an environment)

the noise of the herons

the noise of the bubbling brook

She missed the noise of her hometown.

2

a

: an unwanted signal or a disturbance (such as static or a variation of voltage) in an electronic device or instrument (such as a radio or television)

broadly : a disturbance interfering with the operation of a usually mechanical device or system

b

: electromagnetic radiation (such as light or radio waves) that is composed of several frequencies (see frequency sense 3b) and that involves random changes in frequency or amplitude (see amplitude sense 1b)

c

: irrelevant or meaningless data or output occurring along with desired information

The initial data includes a lot of noise that needs to be weeded out.

Too many variables (what statisticians call "noise")—occupation, personal habits, diet, the presence of environmental insults other than the chemical in question, and so forth—exist in any given geographic area to allow clear linkages of diseases to specific contaminants.

—Peter Rogers

3

a

: common talk : rumor

The noise goes, this: there is among the Greeks / A lord of Troyan blood, nephew to Hector; / They call him Ajax.

—William Shakespeare

I know the noise is that many players in his position … would be putting up the insane numbers he has over the last couple of years. I don't agree with that. It takes a special talent to do what he's doing.

—Carlan Gay and Scott Rafferty

But now folks are making noise about an unbeaten season and a national title run.

—Brad Davis

b

: indirect, casual, or unofficial comments

Owner Ken Behring is making noise about moving the team, perhaps to a proposed new stadium in Los Angeles …

—Johnette Howard

—usually plural

She started making noises about running for office. [=she started saying things that showed she was thinking about running for office]

c

noises plural : statements of a specified kind

The company has been making soothing/reassuring noises to calm the fears of investors.

In other words, the brand is definitely making all the right noises [=saying things that sound very appealing] for the developer community. But time will tell whether it follows up with solid action in this regard.

—Hadlee Simons

d

: outcry, protest

People have been making (a lot of) noise about the price increases.

4

: something that attracts attention

the play … will make little noise in the world

—Brendan Gill

Serious historical research, still far more prevalent in Japan than in China, for obvious reasons, is gradually being drowned out by the noise of political rhetoric.

—Ian Buruma

5

: something spoken or uttered

My dad made a loud noise when he hit his finger with the hammer.

6

: a style of rock music that is loud, often discordant, and usually uses electronic effects (such as feedback and distortion)

noiseless

ˈnȯiz-ləs 

adjective

noiselessly adverb

noise

2 of 2

verb

noised; noising

intransitive verb

1

: to talk much or loudly

2

: to make a noise

transitive verb

: to spread by rumor or report

—usually used with about or abroad

the scandal was quickly noised about

Synonyms

Noun

• babel
• blare
• bluster
• bowwow
• brawl
• bruit [archaic]
• cacophony
• chatter
• clamor
• clangor
• decibel(s)
• din
• discordance
• katzenjammer
• racket
• rattle
• roar

Verb

• bruit (about)
• circulate
• rumor
• whisper

Examples of noise in a Sentence

Noun

I couldn't hear him over all the noise.

That's not music. To me it's a bunch of noise.

The furnace makes a lot of noise when it comes on.

We closed the windows to block out the traffic noise.

The landlord has been getting complaints from the tenants about noise.

There were noises coming from the basement.

The sink was making a gurgling noise.

Do you hear that rattling noise?

The machine hardly makes any noise.

The initial data included a lot of noise that had to be weeded out.

Verb

for weeks afterwards, staffers noised about the department head's sudden, unexplained departure

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The noise keeps getting louder, and louder… Then: silence. —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 1 Nov. 2024

No noise is awkward, blaring beats are off-putting, but a melody softly playing in the background—now that's just right. —Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 1 Nov. 2024

Verb

From news to noise In a stunning move, WCBS-AM—New York’s legendary all-news radio station—abandoned objective journalism for a sports format in late August. —Richard Torrenzano, Fortune, 11 Sep. 2024

All up and down Marked are ripping guitars and faded, gravelly noises. —Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, from Anglo-French, disturbance, noise, from Latin nausea nausea

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1c

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing noise

• anti-noise
• background noise
• big noise
• cosmic noise
• making (a lot of) noise
• making noise
• noise pollution
• pink noise
• white noise

Kids Definition

noise

1 of 2 noun

ˈnȯiz 

1

: a loud, confused, or senseless shouting or outcry

2

a

: sound entry 3 sense 1b

especially : a loud, harsh, or unharmonious sound

b

: an unwanted signal in an electronic communication system

noise

2 of 2 verb

noised; noising

: to spread by rumor or report

noised it about that we would be allowed to leave early

Etymology

Noun

Middle English noise "noise," from early French noise "quarrel, loud noise," from Latin nausea "seasickness, nausea," derived from Greek nautēs "sailor" — related to nausea see Word History at nausea

Word Origin

Although loud noise may make us sick, we probably do not think of the words noise and nausea as having much in common. But the word noise came into English from early French, in which it meant "quarrel, loud noise." French had it from the Latin word nausea meaning "seasickness, nausea." Perhaps the original connection was with the unpleasant sounds or complaints made by seasick passengers or sailors. Nausea, after all, came from the Greek word for sailor, nautēs.