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n. 1. a. Sound or a sound that is loud, unpleasant, unexpected, or undesired. b. Sound or a sound of any kind: The only noise was the wind in the pines. 2. A loud outcry or commotion: the noise of the mob; a lot of noise over the new law. 3. Physics A disturbance, especially a random and persistent disturbance, that obscures or reduces the clarity of a signal. 4. Computers Irrelevant or meaningless data. 5. Informal a. A complaint or protest. b. Rumor; talk. c. noises Remarks or actions intended to convey a specific impression or to attract attention: "The U.S. is making appropriately friendly noises to the new Socialist Government" (Flora Lewis). tr.v. noised, nois·ing, nois·es To spread the rumor or report of. [Middle English, from Old French, perhaps from Vulgar Latin *nausea, discomfort, from Latin nausea, seasickness; see NAUSEA.] Synonyms: noise, din, racket2, uproar, pandemonium, hullabaloo, hubbub, clamor These nouns refer to loud, confused, or disagreeable sounds. Noise is the least specific: deafened by the noise in the subway. A din is a jumble of loud, usually discordant sounds: the din of the factory. Racket is loud, distressing noise: the racket made by trucks rolling along cobblestone streets. Uproar, pandemonium, and hullabaloo imply disorderly tumult together with loud, bewildering sound: "The evening uproar of the howling monkeys burst out" (W.H. Hudson); "a pandemonium of dancing and whooping, drumming and feasting" (Francis Parkman); a tremendous hullabaloo in the agitated crowd. Hubbub emphasizes turbulent activity and concomitant din: the hubbub of bettors, speculators, and tipsters. Clamor is loud, sustained noise, as of a public outcry of dissatisfaction: "not in the clamor of the crowded street" (Henry Wadsworth Longfellow); a debate that was interrupted by a clamor of opposition. |
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