audio
Adjective[C/U] Both
This term functions as a technical label that strips sound of its emotional or musical qualities, treating it instead as a signal or a data stream. It is the standard terminology in production, engineering, and digital media to distinguish sound from visual elements. In casual conversation, it often serves as a shorthand for a voice recording. When someone asks for an audio, they are usually requesting a spoken message rather than a written text, shifting the word from a technical descriptor to a specific digital object.
Uncountable when referring to the general concept of sound in a broadcast (the audio was clear). Countable when referring to a specific recording or clip (send me an audio).