sound pressure

American  

noun

Physics.

1. Also called instantaneous sound pressure.  Also called excess sound pressure,.  the difference between the pressure at a point in a medium through which a sound wave is passing and the static pressure of the medium at that point.

2. effective sound pressure.

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Etymology

Origin of sound pressure

First recorded in 1890–95

Example Sentences

Commander Fox explains that mines generally fall into two categories: contact mines, which detonate when struck, and influence mines, which explode when sensors detect changes in sound, pressure or magnetism.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

Volume is measured in decibels, or units of sound pressure.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 10, 2024

However, this pioneering stretchable synesthesia display shatters preconceived boundaries by offering unparalleled optical performance and precise sound pressure levels.

From Science Daily • Oct. 12, 2023

It shows the average sound pressure over the given time period — and if you ran the app for a full 24 hours, the metric would be comparable with the metric used in many studies.

From New York Times • Jun. 9, 2023

It should be noted at this point that there is another decibel scale in use, called the sound pressure level, based on the ratio of the pressure amplitude to a reference pressure.

From Textbooks • Aug. 12, 2015