auditory
AW-dih-tor-ee
/ˈɔːdətɔːri/
Relating to the sense of hearing or sound perception.
Refers to biological systems, neural pathways, or cognitive phenomena associated with hearing sound signals.
The story behind the word. From Late Latin 'auditorius' (pertaining to hearing), from 'audire' (to hear). The same root gives us 'auditorium' (a place to hear presentations), 'audience' (those who hear), and 'audible'.
Word relationships
- aural: 'Aural' pertains specifically to the ear and hearing; 'auditory' is preferred in clinical and psychological contexts.
- acoustic: 'Acoustic' refers to sound physics (e.g., room acoustics), whereas 'auditory' refers to sensory perception of sound.
- visual: 'Visual' pertains to sight rather than hearing.
Commonly confused with
- auditory vs visual: Auditory refers to hearing sensory input, while visual refers to seeing sensory input.
Word family
- audition (noun): The sense of hearing, or a test performance.
- audio (noun): Sound, especially when recorded, transmitted, or reproduced.
Collocations
- auditory cortex
- auditory nerve
- auditory hallucination
- auditory processing
Example sentences
- "Damage to hair cells inside the cochlea leads to sensorineural auditory loss." Audiology
- "The auditory hallucinations began as a low rhythmic humming before resolving into clear voices." Literature
Memory hook
AUDITORY connects to AUDIO and AUDIENCE—all involve hearing sound. Auditory = Audio in your ears.
When not to use
Do not confuse with 'acoustic' (which describes physical sound waves and room acoustics, rather than biological hearing).
Fun facts
- The auditory system can detect sound wave vibrations as tiny as the width of an atom!
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