From Middle English noyse, noise, from Old French noise, of uncertain origin.

• enPR: noiz, IPA: /nɔɪz/

noise

1. (uncountable) Various sounds, usually unwanted or unpleasant.

   He knew that it was trash day, when the garbage collectors made all the noise.

   • 1627 (indicated as 1626), Francis [Bacon], “(please specify the page, or |century=I to X)”, in Sylua Syluarum: Or A Naturall Historie. In Ten Centuries. […], London: […] William Rawley […]; [p]rinted by J[ohn] H[aviland] for William Lee […], →OCLC ↗:

     The heavens turn about in a most rapid motion without noise to us perceived.

2. Any sound.

   The sudden noise made everyone jump.

   She crept up behind him not making a noise.

3. Sound or signal generated by random fluctuations.
4. (technology) Any part of a signal or data that reduces the clarity, precision, or quality of the desired output.

   signal-to-noise ratio

5. (figurative, by extension) Unwanted fuss or bustle; useless activity.
6. (genetics) The measured level of variation in gene expression among cells, regardless of source, within a supposedly identical population.
7. Rumour or complaint.

   The problems with the new computer system are causing a lot of noise at Head Office.

   • 1709-1710, Thomas Baker (antiquarian), Reflections on Learning

     What noise have we had for fome Years about Transplantation of diseases and transfusion of blood!

   • October 13, 1711, Joseph Addison, The Spectator, No. 195

     He [Socrates] lived in Athens during the great plague, which has made so much noise through all ages.

8. (informal) Speech that is suggestive of an attitude or opinion.
   • 2012, Richard Oliver Collin, Pamela L. Martin, An Introduction to World Politics, page 425:

     Despite encouraging noises made by politicians from time to time, the two sides there have never been further from an agreement.

9. (obsolete) Music, in general; a concert; also, a company of musicians; a band.
   • 1621 August 13 (first performance; Gregorian calendar), Ben Jonson, “The Masque of the Gypsies”, in Q. Horatius Flaccus: His Art of Poetry. […], London: […] J[ohn] Okes, for John Benson […], published 1640, →OCLC ↗:

     The king has his noise of gypsies.

   • 1646 (indicated as 1645), John Milton, “At A Solemn Musick”, in Poems of Mr. John Milton, […], London: […] Ruth Raworth for Humphrey Mosely, […], →OCLC ↗:

     That we on earth, with undiscording voice, / May rightly answer that melodious noise

10. (music) A genre of rock music that uses static and other non-musical sounds, also influenced by art rock.

• (Various sounds) sound

• French: bruit, vacarme, brouhaha, boucan, tintamarre
• German: Lärm, Geräusch, Krach (as in Krach machen: to make a lot of noise)
• Italian: rumore, strepito
• Portuguese: barulho, ruído, estrépido
• Russian: шум
• Spanish: ruido, estrépito, barullo

• French: bruit
• German: Rauschen, Störung
• Portuguese: ruído
• Russian: шум
• Spanish: ruido

• French: bruit
• German: Rauschen
• Portuguese: ruído
• Russian: шум
• Spanish: ruido

• French: bruit
• Italian: rumore
• Portuguese: ruído
• Spanish: ruido

• French: bruit (dated)

noise (noises, present participle noising; simple past and past participle noised)

1. (intransitive) To make a noise; to sound.
   • 1667, John Milton, “(please specify the page number)”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC ↗; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC ↗:

     Those terrours, which thou speak'st of, did me none ;
     I never fear'd they could, though noising loud
     And threatening nigh

2. (transitive) To spread news of; to spread as rumor or gossip.
   • 1526, [William Tyndale, transl.], The Newe Testamẽt […] (Tyndale Bible), [Worms, Germany: Peter Schöffer], →OCLC ↗, Acts:

     When this was noysed aboute, the multitude cam togedder and were astonyed, because that every man herde them speake in his awne tongue.

   • 1678, John Bunyan, The Pilgrim's Progress from This World, to That which is to Come: […], London: […] Nath[aniel] Ponder […], →OCLC ↗; reprinted in The Pilgrim’s Progress as Originally Published by John Bunyan: Being a Fac-simile Reproduction of the First Edition, London: Elliot Stock […], 1875, →OCLC ↗, page 17 ↗:

     This man then meeting with Chriſtian, and having ſome inckling of him, for Chriſtians ſetting forth from the City of Deſtruction was much noiſed abroad, not only in the Town, where he dwelt, but alſo it began to be the Town-talk in ſome other places.

• French: ébruiter, faire courir le bruit