stereo
stereo — noun
1. a set of electronic devices for playing music or radio, usually including a play
a set of electronic devices for playing music or radio, usually including a player, an amplifier, and two speakers that produce left and right channel sound.
Jason bought a new stereo for his living room, with speakers that connect wirelessly.
countable: a stereo / the stereo
The old stereo in the basement still works, though the CD tray sometimes gets stuck.
Mizuki turned up the stereo to hear the bass line of her favourite song.
A portable stereo is useful for outdoor parties where there is no power socket nearby.
Ishaan connected his phone to the stereo via Bluetooth so everyone at the barbecue could hear the playlist.
- sound system
more general term that may include additional components like a subwoofer or surround-sound speakers
- hi-fi
short for 'high fidelity'; emphasises high-quality sound reproduction, slightly dated but still in use
文法句型
stereo + noun
a/the stereo
用法筆記
Countable and commonly used both with and without an article: 'a stereo' (any device) or 'the stereo' (a specific one). 'Stereo' can also function as a modifier before a noun, e.g. 'stereo speakers', 'stereo system.' As electronic devices have become smaller, 'stereo' increasingly overlaps with 'soundbar,' 'smart speaker,' and 'home theatre system.'
常見錯誤
2. a method of recording or broadcasting sound that splits audio into left and righ
a method of recording or broadcasting sound that splits audio into left and right channels, giving a fuller listening experience than a single-channel system.
Most radio stations now broadcast in stereo, giving listeners a richer sound experience.
collocation: broadcast/record/play in stereo
The album was mixed in stereo so each instrument sits clearly in its own channel.
in stereo + left/right channel description
Many music streaming apps now offer a stereo option that makes songs feel more spacious and immersive.
Ilan played a stereo recording that separated each jazz instrument into its own channel.
Beatrix played a stereo test track to check that both car speakers were working.
- stereophonic sound
the full technical term for this format; more formal and less common in everyday speech
- mono
single-channel sound recording or playback, without left-right separation
文法句型
in stereo
broadcast/record/play in stereo
用法筆記
Uncountable in this sense — you say 'broadcast in stereo', not 'broadcast in a stereo.' The phrase 'in stereo' is the most common grammatical frame for this meaning.
常見錯誤
stereo — adjective
1. describing audio that is split into left and right channels to give a fuller, mo
describing audio that is split into left and right channels to give a fuller, more lifelike listening experience than a single-channel system offers.
The concert was recorded with stereo microphones to capture the full range of instruments.
attributive use: stereo microphone system
Asher prefers listening to music in stereo mode for a wider, more natural sound.
The stereo microphones at the live show captured the singer's voice from one side and the guitar from the other.
Many video games use stereo audio to help players tell where sounds come from.
Vikram bought stereo headphones so he could hear the different layers of the recording clearly.
- stereophonic
the full, more technical term for two-channel sound; less common in everyday language but standard in technical specifications
- mono
single-channel, without left-right separation
文法句型
stereo + noun
用法筆記
Attributive only — you can say 'stereo sound' but not 'The sound is stereo.' The predicative form uses the noun sense instead: 'The sound is in stereo.' Distinguish from noun/1 by form: adjective modifies a noun ('stereo recording'), noun stands alone ('recorded in stereo').
常見錯誤
2. describing a device, pair of pictures, or viewing technique that makes objects a
describing a device, pair of pictures, or viewing technique that makes objects appear to have depth by feeding a separate image to each eye, imitating natural human vision.
The museum displayed stereo photographs from the 1800s that appear three-dimensional through a special viewer.
attributive use: stereo photographs
The stereo viewer at the museum made the old photographs look three-dimensional when Lauren looked through both lenses.
Stereo cameras use two lenses to capture images that show depth and distance.
The doctor studied stereo X-ray images to locate the exact position of the bone fracture.
A stereo microscope gives a three-dimensional view of tiny objects for close examination.
- stereoscopic
the full technical term; preferred in formal scientific writing to avoid confusion with the audio sense of 'stereo'
- monoscopic
showing a single flat image without depth illusion
文法句型
stereo + noun
用法筆記
Attributive only, like adj/1. Most common in specialised fields such as photography, medical imaging, microscopy, and astronomy. Distinguished from adj/1 by domain: this sense relates to vision and depth perception, not to audio. In technical writing, 'stereoscopic' is often preferred for clarity.