surround sound

[ suh-round sound ]

noun

1. an array of movie theater speakers, or the collective components of a home entertainment system, as speakers and an audio receiver, delivering audio from different channels of a soundtrack to convey directional sound, typically used to enhance the immersive experience of watching entertainment on a screen:

   Having surround sound really makes the whole television experience better, not just for movies, but sports too!

adjective

1. of or relating to such a collection of three or more speakers delivering multichannel audio to create an immersive experience at home or in a theater:

   With five or seven surround sound speakers, you can hear video game enemies approaching from a specific direction—a real advantage over the TV audio output.

surround sound

noun

1. a system of sound recording and reproduction that uses three or more independent recording channels and loudspeakers in order to give the impression that the listener is surrounded by the sound sources Compare quadraphonics See also ambisonics

Word History and Origins

Origin of surround sound¹

First recorded in 1965–70

Example Sentences

You will probably want to equip the room with a surround sound system, soundbar or a full-fledged home theater system, especially since you’ll want to hear the action.

From Seattle Times

But the surreal synchronism of the disparate events 182 days before the election captured the sometimes unreal reality of a presidential race like none before it, at once profound and tawdry, a contest with momentous consequences and a circuslike surround sound.

From New York Times

Next Gen America, a youth-focused group funded by California billionaire Tom Steyer, is including social media influencers as part of a “surround sound” approach to swaying young voters in eight, largely battleground states.

From Los Angeles Times

It is a sort of surround sound in terms of their intention and their focus.

From Slate

Texas-based theater chain Cinemark, which operates theaters in Bellevue, Federal Way and Tacoma, has seen interest in XD, its premium, large-format auditorium with immersive surround sound, skyrocket since the pandemic.

From Seattle Times