dolby

IPA/ˈdɒl.bi/
KK[dˈolbi]IPA/ˈdɑːl.bi/

dolby — noun

1. Dolby is a company trademark for a technology that removes unwanted noise from a

1.nounB1
Definition

Dolby is a company trademark for a technology that removes unwanted noise from audio recordings, making the sound clearer.

Example

The old cinema installed Dolby technology, so the action film sounded much clearer.

collocation: Dolby technology

When you buy a home theater, check whether the model supports Dolby audio.

collocation: Dolby audio

Common collocations
  • Dolby system
  • Dolby technology
  • Dolby audio
  • Dolby sound
  • Dolby processing
  • Dolby noise reduction
  • with Dolby
  • Dolby-equipped

Grammar Patterns

Dolby + noun

with Dolby

Usage Note

Dolby is a trademark and should always be capitalized. It can be used as an uncountable noun ('This film has Dolby') or as a modifier before nouns ('Dolby system', 'Dolby technology'). Avoid using 'dolby' as a generic term for noise reduction — it refers specifically to technology developed by Dolby Laboratories.

Common Mistakes

I bought a cassette player with dolby noise reduction.
I bought a cassette player with Dolby noise reduction.
The trademark name must be capitalized.
This editing software has a good dolby for cleaning up audio.
This editing software has good noise reduction for cleaning up audio.
Dolby is a specific brand, not a generic term for any noise-reduction feature.

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Dolby, DTS, and THX are all well-known brands in cinema and home-theater sound. Dolby and DTS are competing digital surround-sound formats found on DVDs, Blu-rays, and streaming content. Dolby is the older, more widely recognized brand and is often used informally by consumers to mean 'high-quality audio.' DTS is a rival format that some listeners find offers a slightly different sound profile. THX is not a sound format but a set of quality standards that equipment must pass to deliver accurate playback. When buying a home theater system, you might see logos for all three, but they serve different purposes: Dolby and DTS encode the sound, while THX certifies the hardware.

Dolby ↗DTSTHX ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

  • Dolby system
  • Dolby technology
  • Dolby audio
  • Dolby sound
  • Dolby processing
  • Dolby noise reduction

Phrases

  • Dolby-equipped

Prepositions

  • with Dolby

Etymology

English

Dolby is named after the American engineer Ray Dolby, who invented the noise-reduction system in the 1960s. He founded Dolby Laboratories, which went on to develop many other audio technologies for film, music, and broadcasting. The company name became so strongly associated with high-quality sound that people started using 'Dolby' to refer to the technology itself.