noise

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English

Etymology

From Middle English noise, from Old French noise (“a dispute, wrangle, strife, noise”), of uncertain origin. According to some, from Latin nausia, nausea (“disgust, nausea”); according to others, from Latin noxia (“hurt, harm, damage, injury”); but neither explanation is satisfactory in regard to either form or sense.

Pronunciation

  • enPR: noiz, IPA(key): /nɔɪz/
  • Audio (US):(file)
  • Audio (UK):(file)
  • Audio:(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɔɪz

Noun

noise (countable and uncountable, plural noises)

  1. Various sounds, usually unwanted or unpleasant.
    He knew that it was trash day, when the garbage collectors made all the noise.
    • (Can we date this quote by Francis Bacon and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      The heavens turn about in a most rapid motion without noise to us perceived.
    • 1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax:
      Charles had not been employed above six months at Darracott Place, but he was not such a whopstraw as to make the least noise in the performance of his duties when his lordship was out of humour.
  2. Sound or signal generated by random fluctuations.
  3. (technology) Unwanted part of a signal.
    signal-to-noise ratio
  4. (figurative, by extension) Unwanted fuss or bustle; useless activity.
    • 2013, R. Douglas Williamson, Straight Talk on Leadership: Solving Canada's Business Crisis
      In order to provide coherence and confidence, the leader must dramatically turn down the noise level in the organization, eliminate any unnecessary distractions that inevitably get in the way of execution, and banish the fear of uncertainty.
  5. (genetics) The measured level of variation in gene expression among cells, regardless of source, within a supposedly identical population.
  6. Rumour or complaint.
    The problems with the new computer system are causing a lot of noise at Head Office.
    • (Can we date this quote by T. Baker and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      What noise have we had about transplantation of diseases and transfusion of blood!
    • (Can we date this quote by Spectator and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      Socrates lived in Athens during the great plague which has made so much noise in all ages.
  7. (obsolete) Music, in general; a concert; also, a company of musicians; a band.
    • (Can we date this quote by Ben Jonson and provide title, author’s full name, and other details?)
      The king has his noise of gypsies.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Milton to this entry?)
  8. (music) A genre of rock music that uses static and other non-musical sounds, also influenced by art rock.

Synonyms

See also: Thesaurus:sound

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Translations

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

References

(Genetics meaning) "Noise in Gene Expression: Origins, Consequences, and Control." Jonathan M. Raser and Erin K. O'Shea (2005). Science. 309(5743):2010-2013.

Verb

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  1. (intransitive) To make a noise; to sound.
    (Can we find and add a quotation of Milton to this entry?)
  2. (transitive) To spread news of; to spread as rumor or gossip.
    • 1526, William Tyndale, trans. Bible, Acts II:
      When this was noysed aboute, the multitude cam togedder and were astonyed, because that every man herde them speake in his awne tongue.

Translations

Further reading

Anagrams

French

Etymology

From Old French noise, possibly from Latin nausia, nausea, or alternatively noxia.

Pronunciation

Noun

noise f (plural noises)

  1. (archaic or literary) quarrel, argument

Derived terms

Further reading

Anagrams

Middle French

Etymology

Old French noise.

Noun

noise f (plural noises)

  1. noise

Descendants

  • French: noise

Old French

Etymology

Origin uncertain; according to some, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin nausia, nausea (“disgust, nausea”), compare Old Occitan nauza (“noise, quarrel”); according to others, from (deprecated template usage) [etyl] Latin noxia (“hurt, harm, damage, injury”); but neither explanation is satisfactory in regard to either form or sense.

Pronunciation

Noun

noise oblique singular, f (oblique plural noises, nominative singular noise, nominative plural noises)

  1. dispute, argument
  2. noise, sound

Descendants

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