acoustical
UK[əˈkuːstɪkəl]US[əˈkuːstɪkəl]
adj
relating to sound or the sense of hearing.
adj
designed to control or improve the way sound is heard in a room or building.
Morpheme Breakdown
acoust
ic
al
acoust
hearing
ic
adjective suffix
al
adjective suffix
Etymology
the word 'acoustical' has its origins in the ancient greek verb 'akouein', meaning 'to hear'. this root passed into latin and later english via the greek adjective 'akoustikos', which pertained to hearing. the suffix '-ic', of greek origin via latin, is commonly used to form adjectives meaning 'of or pertaining to', while the latin suffix '-al' serves a similar adjectival function, creating a layered descriptive term. thus, the literal construction 'pertaining to hearing' evolved into the modern technical term relating to the properties and science of sound.
Analysis
Structure: acoust (hearing) + ic (adjective suffix) + al (adjective suffix)
acoust (from greek 'akoustikos', from 'akouein' meaning 'to hear'), ic (adjective-forming suffix from greek '-ikos', via latin '-icus'), al (adjective-forming suffix from latin '-alis')
Examples
the concert hall underwent extensive acoustical engineering to ensure perfect sound quality.
she specializes in the acoustical properties of different building materials.
the study focused on the acoustical environment of open-plan offices.