phon

¹

[ fon ]

noun

1. a unit for measuring the apparent loudness of a sound, equal in number for a given sound to the intensity in decibels of a sound having a frequency of 1000 cycles per second when, in the judgment of a group of listeners, the two sounds are of equal loudness.

phon-

²

1. variant of phono- before a vowel:

   phonic.

phon.

³

abbreviation for

1. phonetics.

phon

¹

/ fɒn /

noun

1. a unit of loudness that measures the intensity of a sound by the number of decibels it is above a reference tone having a frequency of 1000 hertz and a root-mean-square sound pressure of 20 × 10 ^–6pascal

phon.

²

abbreviation for

1. Alsophonet phonetics
2. phonology

phon

/ fŏn /

1. A unit of apparent loudness. The loudness of a signal in phons is equal to the intensity in decibels of a 1,000-hertz tone judged to be as loud as the signal being measured.

Word History and Origins

Origin of phon¹

First recorded in 1930–35, phon is from the Greek word phōnḗ voice

Word History and Origins

Origin of phon¹

C20: via German from Greek phōnē sound, voice

Example Sentences

They were identified as Phon Sutton, 85, and Dara Sutton, 72, both of Payson, Arizona.

From Seattle Times

Trial Judge Phon Wang, noting that the younger Yagman had “used his skills as an advocate to convince himself that his misconduct was okay at the time,” took him at his word that “he has evolved as a person” and acknowledged that he had repaid all his bankruptcy creditors.

From Los Angeles Times

It even has a name, as I’m reminded each December when it reappears and circulates like those boxes of Thin Mints: “PHON.O’s Calm Down Edit.”

From Washington Post

I do not know much about Mr. PHON.O — a prolific-seeming Berlin-based techno producer whose Bandcamp reflects an occasional penchant for “Slow as Fog” ambient explorations in the same sonically misty vein as his perennially viral Wham! edit, first posted online six years ago.

From Washington Post

What I do know is that by simply spiking the cloyingly sweet nog of “Last Christmas” with a generous ladleful of virtual codeine, PHON.O has given me a gift that, year after year, just keeps on giving.

From Washington Post