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signal-to-noise ratio: n. [from analog electronics] Used by hackers in a generalization of its
technical meaning. ‘Signal’ refers to useful information
conveyed by some communications medium, and ‘noise’ to anything
else on that medium. Hence a low ratio implies that it is not worth paying
attention to the medium in question. Figures for such metaphorical ratios
are never given. The term is most often applied to
Usenet newsgroups during
flame wars. Compare bandwidth. See also
coefficient of X,
lost in the noise.
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