"sound," especially recorded or transmitted, 1934, abstracted from prefix audio- (in audio-frequency, 1919, etc.), from Latin audire "hear" (see audience).
word-forming element meaning "sound, hearing," from comb. form of Latin audire "hear," (see audience); first used in English as a word-formation element 1913.
audio- pref.
Hearing: audiology.
Sound: audiogenic.
file format
Sound, one component of multimedia. Computers (and audio compact discs and digital audio tape) work with digital audio, in contrast to vinyl disks or analogue tape.
(1999-07-30)