mono

mono — noun

1. A way of recording or transmitting sound that uses a single audio channel, so al

1.nounB2
Definition

A way of recording or transmitting sound that uses a single audio channel, so all sound reaches the listener from one direction rather than creating a sense of space between left and right.

Example

Haruto prefers listening to mono recordings of jazz from the 1950s.

uncountable: mono recordings of [music genre]

Mono was the standard format for radio broadcasts until stereo became common.

Common collocations
  • in mono
  • mono recording
  • mono sound
  • mono audio
Synonyms
  • monophonic

    the full technical term; mono is the shortened everyday form

  • single-channel

    descriptive term focusing on the technical aspect

Antonyms
  • stereo

    uses two or more channels to create a sense of space

  • surround sound

    uses multiple speakers placed around the listener

Grammar Patterns

mono as an uncountable noun

Usage Note

Now used mainly to distinguish older or simpler recordings from stereo or surround sound formats.

2. A viral illness, most common in teenagers and young adults, whose symptoms inclu

2.nounB2
Definition

A viral illness, most common in teenagers and young adults, whose symptoms include sore throat, fever, swollen glands, and extreme tiredness that may persist for weeks; short for mononucleosis.

Example

Tunde was diagnosed with mono and had to rest for two weeks.

diagnosed with mono

Many college students catch mono because the virus spreads through shared drinks.

Common collocations
  • catch mono
  • have mono
  • diagnosed with mono
  • come down with mono
Synonyms
  • mononucleosis

    the formal medical term; mono is the shortened informal version

  • glandular fever

    the common name used in British English for the same illness

Grammar Patterns

mono as an uncountable noun, usually with 'have' or 'catch'

Usage Note

The formal medical term is infectious mononucleosis. Mono is the common casual name used in the US and Canada.

Common Mistakes

I caught a mono.
I caught mono.
Mono is an uncountable noun and does not take an article.

mono — adjective

mono — prefix

mono — combining form

Word family

  • monochrome
    adjectiveB2
  • monogamy
    nounC1
  • monologue
    nounB2
  • mononucleosis
    nounB2
  • monophonic
    adjectiveC1
  • monorail
    nounB2
  • monotheism
    nounC1
  • monopoly
    nounB2
  • monocular
    adjectiveC1
  • monotone
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Mono, short for monophonic, refers to audio that uses a single channel, producing sound from one direction with no sense of spatial separation. Monophonic is the full formal term used in technical specifications and academic writing, while mono is the everyday word. Single-channel is a more descriptive alternative that emphasises the technical number of channels rather than the listening experience. By contrast, stereo (from Greek for 'solid') uses two separate channels to create a sense of width and positioning of instruments. Surround sound extends this further by adding rear and side speakers for an immersive, three-dimensional audio field. In everyday usage, mono describes older recordings and basic equipment, whereas stereo and surround sound describe modern, higher-fidelity listening. For example, a listener might say, 'The mono recording sounds warm but lacks the separation of the stereo mix,' or 'I prefer mono for podcasts because the voice stays centred.'

mono ↗monophonicsingle-channelstereo ↗surround sound

Common collocations

Phrases

  • in mono

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

Shortened from monophonic, which comes from Greek 'monos' (μόνος) meaning 'alone' or 'single', combined with 'phōnē' (φωνή) meaning 'sound' or 'voice'. The prefix mono- itself entered English through Latin from Greek, appearing in scientific and academic vocabulary from the 17th century onward. The noun sense referring to the illness is a shortening of mononucleosis, formed from mono- + Latin 'nucleus' (kernel) + Greek-derived '-osis' (abnormal condition).