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loud
/laʊd/
producing much noise
The concert was so loud that my ears hurt.
The volume of the music was extremely high and painful.
general
Producing a great deal of noise; characterized by high volume.
The children were loud in the playground.
The children were making a lot of noise while playing.
She spoke in a loud voice to be heard over the crowd.
She raised her voice to ensure everyone could hear her.
Often used to describe sounds that are uncomfortably or excessively noisy.
informal
Bold or conspicuous in a way that attracts attention.
He wore a loud shirt to the party.
He wore a brightly colored, attention-grabbing shirt.
In this sense, 'loud' refers to something visually striking rather than auditory.
Collocations
loud noisea very noisy soundloud musicmusic played at high volumeloud voicea voice that is very loud
Synonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Volume Context
Use 'loud' to describe sounds that are uncomfortably high in volume, such as loud music or loud voices.
Metaphorical Use
Remember that 'loud' can also describe something visually striking, like a loud shirt or loud colors.
Gold Rule
Primary Meaning
The primary meaning of 'loud' refers to sounds that are high in volume and often uncomfortable to hear.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'loude', from Old English 'hlūd', meaning 'loud, noisy, or clear'. Related to Old Norse 'hlýðr' and German 'laut'.
Usage Notes
The word 'loud' is commonly used to describe sounds that are uncomfortably high in volume. It can also be used metaphorically to describe something that is visually striking or attention-grabbing.
Word Breakdown
loud
high in volume or noise
rootEnglish Dictionary