Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adjective That is heard or that can be heard.
  • noun Football An offensive play or defensive formation called at the line of scrimmage just before the snap, usually as an adjustment to the opposing team's formation.
  • intransitive verb To call (an audible) at the line of scrimmage.
  • intransitive verb To call an audible.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • Capable of being heard; perceivable by the ear; loud enough to be heard: as, an audible voice or whisper.
  • noun That which may be heard.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • adjective Capable of being heard; loud enough to be heard; actually heard.
  • noun obsolete That which may be heard.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • adjective Able to be heard.
  • verb intransitive, American football To change the play at the line of scrimmage by yelling out a new one.
  • noun American football The act of or an instance of changing the play at the line of scrimmage by yelling out a new one.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • adjective heard or perceptible by the ear
  • noun a football play is changed orally after both teams have assumed their positions at the line of scrimmage

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Late Latin audībilis, from Latin audīre, to hear; see au- in Indo-European roots.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Middle French audible, from Late Latin audibilis, from Latin audire ("to hear").

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Examples

  • And when Stenwold listened, in that very instant there was no more murmur audible from the gates.

    Archive 2010-02-01 Blue Tyson 2010

  • That leaves only the chiclet clicking of this laptop's keyboard and the rhythmic ticking of the two battery driven clocks that are in audible range.

    Open Silence William "Papa" Meloney 2007

  • On his second pass play, Leinart called an audible from the line of scrimmage, then lofted a 49-yard touchdown pass to Anquan Boldin.

    USATODAY.com - Football - Kansas City vs. Arizona 2006

  • If he was, it wasn't audible from the back Ah, to have a backchannel … What I want to know is, Tom, where d'ya get them (non-vicarish) trainers?

    Attention grabbers and layer space « Innovation Cloud 2006

  • He turned his head slightly, his lips moving in a phrase audible only to the Caverna.

    The Coelura McCaffrey, Anne 1983

  • Looking round, every face was set with a grave determination 'to do,' and there was not a word audible as the orders were spoken and the commands obeyed.

    South Africa and the Transvaal War, Vol. 1 (of 6) From the Foundation of Cape Colony to the Boer Ultimatum of 9th Oct. 1899 Louis Creswicke

  • Then one, two, three bronze figures dash down a steep ravine below the Convent walls, and plunge into the river – a shrill chorus of voices, growing momentarily more audible, is borne upon the wind – and in a few minutes the boat is beset by a shoal of mendicant monks vociferating with all their might Ana Christian ya Hawadji!

    A Thousand Miles Up the Nile 1891

  • … Oh, and yes, on the TV you can hear Manning yelling "Rocket" as he calls the audible and it looks like old friend Barry Cofield looks in Kerrigan's direction.

    NY Daily News 2011

  • … Oh, and yes, on the TV you can hear Manning yelling "Rocket" as he calls the audible and it looks like old friend Barry Cofield looks in Kerrigan's direction.

    NY Daily News 2011

  • I hadn't given much thought to local immigrant cuisine, but after seeing several Laotian spots around, I called an audible.

    NYT > Home Page By SETH KUGEL 2011

Comments

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  • A weird definition by WordNet for non-Americans.

    August 11, 2008

  • Ah, weirdnet! You are depthless.

    August 11, 2008

  • Railway telegraphers' shorthand for "By what authority?" --US Railway Association, Standard Cipher Code, 1906.

    January 20, 2013