noise

plural noises

1. uncountableVarious sounds, usually unwanted or unpleasant.

   He knew that it was trash day, when the garbage collectors made all the noise.

   2 more examples

   The heavens turn about in a most rapid motion without noise to us perceived.

   1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC

   Charles had not been employed above six months at Darracott Place, but he was not such a whopstraw as to make the least noise in the performance of his duties when his lordship was out of humour.

   1959, Georgette Heyer, chapter 1, in The Unknown Ajax

   Synonyms: sound

2. countableuncountableAny sound.

   The sudden noise made everyone jump.

   1 more example

   She crept up behind him not making a noise.

3. countableuncountableSound or signal generated by random fluctuations.

   The complete flutter of the distant signal would probably so entirely destroy its identity that the crosstalk from it would be a substantially unintelligible noise.

   1909, De Loss K. Martin, Glenn D. Gillett and Isabel S. Bemis, “Some Possibilities and Limitations in Common Frequency Broadcasting”, in Proceedings of the IEEE, volume 15, page 215

4. countableuncountableengineeringAny part of a signal or data that reduces the clarity, precision, or quality of the desired output.

   signal-to-noise ratio

   1 more example

   On the technical side, the scanning and OCR of texts, in combination with the graphic design of high school text books, introduced a certain level of noise into the corpus which in turn led to a higher tagging error rate than usual and may affect count precision.

   2018, Clarence Green, James Lambert, “Position vectors, homologous chromosomes and gamma rays: Promoting disciplinary literacy through Secondary Phrase Lists”, in English for Specific Purposes, →DOI, page 11

5. countableuncountablemathematicsVariation or deviation generated by random fluctuations.
6. broadlycountablefigurativelyuncountableUnwanted fuss or bustle; useless activity.

   In order to provide coherence and confidence, the leader must dramatically turn down the noise level in the organization, eliminate any unnecessary distractions that inevitably get in the way of execution, and banish the fear of uncertainty.

   2013, R. Douglas Williamson, Straight Talk on Leadership: Solving Canada's Business Crisis

7. countableuncountablebiologyThe measured level of variation in gene expression among cells, regardless of source, within a supposedly identical population.
8. countableuncountableRumour or complaint.

   The problems with the new computer system are causing a lot of noise at Head Office.

   2 more examples

   1709-1710, Thomas Baker, Reflections on Learning What noise have we had for fome Years about Transplantation of diseases and transfusion of blood!

   He [Socrates] lived in Athens during the great plague, which has made so much noise through all ages.

   October 13, 1711, Joseph Addison, The Spectator, No. 195

9. countableinformaluncountableSpeech that is suggestive of an attitude or opinion.

   Despite encouraging noises made by politicians from time to time, the two sides there have never been further from an agreement.

   2012, Richard Oliver Collin, Pamela L. Martin, An Introduction to World Politics, page 425

10. countableobsoleteuncountableMusic, in general; a concert; also, a company of musicians; a band.

    The king has his noise of gypsies.

    1621 August 13 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Ben Jonson, “The Masque of the Gypsies”, in Q. Horatius Flaccus: His Art of Poetry. […], London: […] J[ohn] Okes, for John Benson […], published 1640, →OCLC

    1 more example

    That we on earth, with undiscording voice, / May rightly answer that melodious noise

    1646 (indicated as 1645), John Milton, “At A Solemn Musick”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], →OCLC

11. countableuncountableentertainmentA genre of rock music that uses static and other non-musical sounds, also influenced by art rock.

present singular third person noises · participle present noising · participle past noised · past noised

1. intransitiveTo make a noise; to sound.

   Those terrours, which thou speak'st of, did me none ; I never fear'd they could, though noising loud And threatening nigh

   1667, John Milton, “(please specify the page number)”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

2. transitiveTo spread news of; to spread as rumor or gossip.

   an ugly story that was being noised about in newsrooms across the nation

   2 more examples

   When this was noysed aboute, the multitude cam togedder and were astonyed, because that every man herde them speake in his awne tongue.

   1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC, Acts

   This man then meeting with Chriſtian, and having ſome inckling of him, for Chriſtians ſetting forth from the City of Deſtruction was much noiſed abroad, not only in the Town, where he dwelt, but alſo it began to be the Town-talk in ſome other places.

   1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim’s Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC; reprinted in The Pilgrim’s Progress as Originally Published by John Bunyan: Being a Fac-simile Reproduction of the First Edition, London: Elliot Stock […], 1875, →OCLC, page 17