Pronunciation: [ kuh-kof-uh-nee ]
Definition: noun
a harsh discordant mixture of sounds.
Origin: Mid 17th Century; Greek
Etymology: from French cacophonie, from Greek kakophōnia, from kakophōnos ‘ill-sounding’, from kakos ‘bad’ + phōnē ‘sound’
Usage:
Synonyms:
din
racket
noise
discord
dissonance
discordance
caterwauling
screeching
jarring
grating
rasping
Example: The cacophony produced by city traffic at midday gave me a headache.