Definition

1. Noun:
   • The subjective perception of the intensity or volume of a sound: The quality of a sound that is the primary psychological correlate of physical strength (amplitude). It is how "loud" or "soft" a sound seems to a listener.
   • Tasteless showiness; garishness; ostentation: A figurative meaning referring to something visually or behaviorally obtrusive, flashy, or lacking in subtlety.

Usage and Examples

• Noun (Perceived sound intensity):

  • The loudness of the concert made my ears ring. (The perceived high volume of the concert caused a ringing sensation.)
  • Adjust the loudness to a comfortable level. (Adjust the perceived volume to a level that is comfortable.)
  • The kids played their music at full volume, demonstrating extreme loudness. (The children played their music at its maximum setting, resulting in a very high perceived sound level.)

• Noun (Tasteless showiness):

  • The loudness of his suit was distracting. (The garish, flashy quality of his suit drew excessive attention.)
  • She criticized the advertisement for its visual loudness. (She criticized the advertisement for being obtrusively flashy.)

Advanced Usage

• In Acoustics and Psychoacoustics: "Loudness" is a specific perceptual scale measured in units called phons or sones, distinct from the physical measurement of sound pressure level (decibels, dB). Two sounds with the same decibel level can have different perceived loudness depending on their frequency.
  • The equal-loudness contour graph shows how perceived loudness varies with frequency.

Variants and Related Words

• Loud (adj.): Having a high volume or intensity; also, tastelessly flashy.
  • A loud noise. / A loud shirt.
• Loudly (adv.): In a loud manner.
  • He complained loudly.
• Aloud (adv.): Audibly; not silently.
  • Please read the passage aloud.
• Loudspeaker (n.): A device that converts electrical signals into sound, contributing to loudness.
  • The sound from the loudspeaker filled the hall.

Synonyms

• Volume (for sound intensity).
• Noisiness (for sound intensity).
• Garishness, Gaudiness, Flashiness (for tasteless showiness).
• Ostentation, Showiness (for tasteless display).

Antonyms

• Softness, Quietness (for sound).
• Subtlety, Restraint, Sobriety (for appearance/behavior).

Related Phrases and Idioms

• For crying out loud: An exclamation of frustration or emphasis (Note: This idiom uses "loud" but is a fixed phrase).
  • For crying out loud, will you please be quiet!
• Out loud: Audibly; so as to be heard.
  • He laughed out loud.

Noun

1. tasteless showiness
2. the magnitude of sound (usually in a specified direction)
   • the kids played their music at full volume