noun
WAV
WAV
WAV (noun) means an audio file format that normally stores a recording uncompressed, keeping the full sound at the cost of a large file. Example: “The studio sent the masters over as WAVs.”
noun
1
An audio file format that normally stores a recording uncompressed, keeping the full sound at the cost of a large file.
"The studio sent the masters over as WAVs."
"A three-minute WAV can easily run to thirty megabytes."
2
A single recording saved in that format.
"Drop the WAV onto the timeline and we'll trim it there."
How to use WAV
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large audio file that keeps the full sound quality.
When to use it
Common in music production, broadcasting and audio editing; less used by general listeners. Written in capitals and said as a word rhyming with "have".
Memory tip
WAV is said as one syllable, not spelled out. The plural is WAVs.
Trace the full origin ↓
Easily confused with
Common pairings
export a WAV
24-bit WAV
WAV file
render to WAV
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The studio sent the masters over as _____.
Etymology
Short for Waveform Audio File Format; the file extension .wav gives the spoken form.
Synonyms
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audio file
uncompressed audio
waveform audio
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between WAV and MP3?
A WAV normally keeps the recording exactly as captured, with nothing removed, so it is large but complete. An MP3 permanently discards parts of the sound to make the file much smaller. WAV is usual for recording and editing; MP3 is usual for sending and listening.
Does converting an MP3 to a WAV restore the lost quality?
No. The detail an MP3 discarded is gone for good, and wrapping it in a WAV simply makes a bigger file containing the same degraded audio. Quality can only be preserved, never recovered, by converting between formats.
Is WAV a Microsoft format?
WAV originated on Windows and is built on the RIFF file structure used there, but it is documented and read by audio software on every major platform, including Mac and Linux.
What is the meaning of WAV?
"WAV" (noun) means an audio file format that normally stores a recording uncompressed, keeping the full sound at the cost of a large file.
