Dictionary

ultrasonic en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (Southern-England) audio
• /ʌltɹəˈsɒnɪk/

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂el- Latin ūls Proto-Indo-European *-teros? Latin -ter Old Latin -ād Latin -ā Latin ultrābor. English ultra- Proto-Indo-European *swenh₂- Proto-Indo-European *swónh₂os Latin sonus Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic English sonic English ultrasonic From ultra- + sonic.

Meanings

1. (qualifier:acoustics) Beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear; with a frequency of 20 kilohertz or higher.
   • When an ultrasonic beam is fired at the microcannons, the emulsion evaporates, expanding rapidly into gas. This creates enough force to push the nanobullets out at velocities reaching several metres per second. 2016 February 1, Tom Whipple, “Microcannon firing nanobullets: the future of targeted medicine”, in The Times:
   • The wheel shop also has equipment for ultrasonic testing of axles for flaws; and systematic checking of locomotive axles and crank pins is carried out as they pass through the shops. 1961 March 14, C. P. Boocock, “The organisation of Eastleigh Locomotive Works”, in Trains Illustrated, pages 159–160:

Forms

Antonyms

infrasonic

Deriveds

ultrasonic bath · nonultrasonic · ultrasonically · acousto-ultrasonic

Relateds

sonic · megasonic · ultrasonics · ultrasound

Translations (31)

ga ultrasonach (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · sk ultrazvukový (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · ka ზებგერითი (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · ca ultrasónico (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · ka ულტრაბგერითი (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · bg ултразву́ков (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · fr ultra-sonore (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · fi ultraääni- (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · ka ულტრახმოვანი (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · ja 超音 (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · it ultrasonico (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · cs ultrazvukový (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · hu ultraszonikus (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · pl ultradźwiękowy (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · uk ультразвукови́й (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · pt ultrassônico (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · cmn 超聲 /超声 (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · pt ultrassónico (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · ru ультразвуково́й (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · fi ultrasooninen (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · kk ультрадыбысты (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · it ultrasonoro (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · ro supersonic (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · tl lakdawnugin (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · fr ultrasonore (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · de Ultraschall- (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · id ultrasonik (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · es ultrasónico (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · be ультрагукавы́ (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · el υπερηχητικός (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear) · fr ultrasonique (beyond (higher in frequency than) the range of sound perceptible to the human ear)