akustische

Akustische is the attributive form of the German adjective akustisch, used to describe things related to sound or acoustics. It appears before feminine or plural nouns, as in akustische Musik or akustische Eigenschaften, and is common in science, technology, and everyday language. The broader field is Akustik, the study of sound.

In science, acoustics (Akustik) investigates the generation, transmission, and perception of sound. It covers how sound waves propagate through air, liquids, and solids, and how materials and environments affect sound. Core concepts include frequency, wavelength, amplitude, impedance, reflection, diffraction, and absorption. Subfields include Raumakustik (room acoustics), Psychoakustik (psychoacoustics), and Unterwasserakustik (underwater acoustics).

In music and technology, akustische is used to distinguish non-electronic, instrument-based sound from electronic or amplified sound. Examples include akustische Gitarre (acoustic guitar), akustische Musik (acoustic music), and akustische Signale (acoustic signals). The term also appears in product descriptions and technical literature to indicate measurements, recordings, or components that involve sound rather than electronic processing.

Etymology traces akustisch to Greek akoustikos, meaning related to hearing, through the historical development of the term Akustik in European languages. Today, akustische remains a common descriptor across disciplines for phenomena, devices, and analyses tied to sound.