quieting

Quieting is the act or process of making something quiet or less noisy, or of reducing stimulation or arousal. As a gerund of the verb quiet, the term appears in many fields to denote efforts to lower noise, dampen activity, or calm environments.

In acoustics and engineering, quieting refers to reducing sound output or transmitted vibration. Methods include isolation mounts, acoustic enclosures, damping materials, mufflers, vibration absorbers, and changes to operating conditions. Product design often markets quieter operation in appliances, vehicles, and industrial equipment.

In urban planning and environmental management, quieting programs seek to reduce community noise by traffic management, speed control, zoning, quiet pavements, and noise barriers. In health, psychology, and education, quieting describes strategies to calm the body and mind, such as breathing exercises, mindfulness, sleep hygiene, and routines to reduce sensory overload.

The term derives from quiet and the present participle suffix -ing, and its exact meaning varies with context, from physical sound reduction to social or personal calm. In general usage, quieting is a broad umbrella term for any process that reduces noise, disruption, or agitation.