auditory
gb/ˈɔdɪtˌɔɹi/ us/ˈɔdɪtˌɔɹi/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
adjective
formal
C1
property
1
related to hearing
connected with hearing, the ears, or sounds that people hear
Usage pattern:
auditory [noun]
Common mistake:
Do not use auditory to mean audible. Audible means “able to be heard.”
Synonyms
aural (also related to hearing or the ear; often formal or technical)
|
acoustic (related to sound itself, not always to hearing)
|
hearing-related (plain-language alternative)
Antonyms
visual (related to sight rather than hearing)
|
tactile (related to touch rather than hearing)
|
nonauditory (not involving hearing; technical)
Collocations
auditory system
|auditory nerve
|auditory cortex
|auditory canal
|auditory processing
|auditory information
|auditory signal
|auditory stimulus
|auditory memory
|auditory hallucination
Themes
senses
|health
|biology
|psychology
Examples
- The app gives both visual and auditory feedback.
- The research team measured auditory responses to different tones.
- People with auditory processing difficulties may struggle to follow speech in noisy rooms.
Learner examples
- The alarm is an auditory signal.
- Auditory information comes through the ears.
Grammar
Dictionary form
auditory
IPA
GB/ˈɔdɪtˌɔɹi/
US/ˈɔdɪtˌɔɹi/
Syllables & stress
aud - it - ory (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (aud)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: auditory
Expressions
auditory canal
1/ˈɔdɪtˌɔɹi kənˈæl/
fixed phrase
technical
ear passage to eardrum
the passage inside the ear that leads to the eardrum
Examples
- The doctor checked the auditory canal for wax and inflammation.
- Swelling in the auditory canal can make the ear feel blocked.
auditory cortex
1/ˈɔdɪtˌɔɹi kˈɔɹtɛks/
fixed phrase
technical
brain area for sound
the part of the brain that helps process sounds
Examples
- Speech sounds are processed in areas of the auditory cortex.
- The scan showed activity in the auditory cortex while participants listened to music.
auditory hallucination
1/ˈɔdɪtˌɔɹi həlˌusɪnˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
hearing unreal sounds
hearing a voice or sound that is not really there
Examples
- After several sleepless nights, he experienced an auditory hallucination and heard someone call his name.
- Auditory hallucinations are often described as voices, but they can also be music or other sounds.
auditory hallucination
1/ˈɔdɪtˌɔɹi həlˌusɪnˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
technical
hearing nonexistent sounds
A false experience of hearing something, such as a voice, when there is no real sound.
Examples
- She described an auditory hallucination in which someone called her name.
- Auditory hallucinations can occur in several mental health conditions, but they can also happen during extreme stress.
- The patient reported auditory hallucinations of music playing in the next room.
auditory learner
1/ˈɔdɪtˌɔɹi lˈɚnɚ/
fixed phrase
learner who prefers listening
someone who learns well by hearing information
Examples
- She describes herself as an auditory learner because lectures help her remember ideas.
- Teachers may include discussion and spoken instructions for auditory learners.
auditory nerve
1/ˈɔdɪtˌɔɹi nˈɚv/
fixed phrase
technical
nerve carrying hearing signals
the nerve that sends sound signals from the ear to the brain
Examples
- Damage to the auditory nerve can affect how sound signals reach the brain.
- The implant sends electrical signals to the auditory nerve.
auditory processing
1/ˈɔdɪtˌɔɹi pɹˈɑsɛsɪŋ/
fixed phrase
technical
brain handling sound
how the brain understands sounds
Examples
- Auditory processing allows the brain to separate a friend's voice from background noise.
- The assessment looked at her auditory processing in difficult listening conditions.
auditory processing disorder
1/ˈɔdɪtˌɔɹi pɹˈɑsɛsɪŋ dɪsˈɔɹdɚ/
fixed phrase
technical
difficulty interpreting sounds
a condition where someone can hear sounds but has trouble understanding them
Examples
- Children with auditory processing disorder may seem not to listen even though their hearing test is normal.
- An audiologist can assess auditory processing disorder using specialized tests.
auditory system
1/ˈɔdɪtˌɔɹi sˈɪstəm/
fixed phrase
technical
body system for hearing
the parts of your ears, nerves, and brain that let you hear
Examples
- The auditory system includes the outer ear, inner ear, auditory nerve, and parts of the brain.
- Noise exposure can damage parts of the auditory system.