noise
/nɔɪz/
Noise describes sound that is unwanted, distracting, or devoid of meaningful structure. Unlike 'sound', which is neutral, noise carries a strong negative connotation of chaos or intrusion. In technical contexts, it refers to the 'garbage' data that hides the actual message. It represents an obstacle to clarity, whether that is auditory clarity in a room or data integrity in a circuit. When used as a verb, it suggests a deliberate act of spreading information—often rumors or complaints—to ensure they are heard by many, moving from private thought to public disturbance.
Uncountable when describing a general roar or an atmosphere of sound ('There is too much noise in here'). Countable when referring to a distinct, individual sound that stands out ('I heard a strange noise coming from the attic').
💬Casual Conversation
Can you please tell Leo to pipe down? All this noise is driving me nuts.
HE IS JUST PLAYING KAREN. STOP BEING SO HIGH STRUNG.
Meanings
A sound, especially one that is loud, unpleasant, or causes a disturbance.
"The noise of the traffic kept me awake all night."
Irrelevant or meaningless data that obscures a signal or interferes with the transmission of information.
"The radio signal was full of static noise."