Buzz
If you have a tendency to focus on grammar, you may have realized that the terms sound and noise are often used in place of each other. However, there’s no clear-cut difference between the two, although certain expressions feel awkward when switched. For instance, it’s rare to hear someone say, “What a lovely noise,” or “What’s that sound all about?” If these examples strike you as odd, you’re on your way to understanding the difference between these words and their proper use.
Merriam-Webster defines sound as 'mechanical radiant energy transmitted through longitudinal pressure waves in a medium, like air, that is the objective cause of hearing.' In simple terms, anything that can be heard, from a dripping faucet to someone talking to a musical composition, qualifies as a sound.
Noise, in contrast, is sound that is either unpleasant or jarring, or any sound that disrupts the ability to hear something else clearly.
Noise is more often associated with something unpleasant or a sound that interferes with other sounds. For example, a yard full of barking dogs creates sound, but depending on the time of day and your proximity, it can become an unwanted noise. Radio static, though technically sound, is unpleasant and hard to understand, which is why it’s referred to as noise.
Noise can also be something unexpected or unidentified. For instance, if you hear a loud bang in the middle of the night, you might ask, 'What’s that noise?'
While every noise is sound, not every sound is undesirable noise. It’s often a matter of perspective. For someone who enjoys heavy metal music, it’s simply sound. To someone who dislikes it, it’s just noise.
