Any sound, especially one that is loud, unpleasant, or unwanted. It can also mean random or confusing signals that make it hard to notice what really matters.
From Old French “noise,” meaning “quarrel, brawl, noise,” probably from Latin “nausea” meaning “seasickness” or “discomfort.” Over time, it shifted to focus on the unpleasant sound itself instead of the fight.
In science and technology, “noise” isn’t just sound—it’s any random interference that hides a clear signal, like static on a radio or grain in a photo. When people say “block out the noise” in life, they’re borrowing this scientific idea for mental focus.
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