Noise is defined relationally against the signal rather than acoustically

Evidence

Realistically, any sound can be a “noise” and can produce masking, but the amount of masking produced by that sound depends on the relationship between the masking sound (the masker) and the sound being detected (the signal). The relationship between the intensities, frequencies, and even the fluctuations within sounds are important. — Jennifer Lentz, Psychoacoustics- Perception of Normal…, 405

Categorization

• DEFINE: Clarifies that ‘noise’ in psychoacoustics is a relational concept, correcting the colloquial ‘unwanted sound’ definition.
• XREF: connects to: Noise is any factor degrading signal detection or discrimination — Almo Farina, Soundscape Ecology: Principles,…, 1238; Noise means unused sound that degrades communication across media — Almo Farina, Soundscape Ecology: Principles,…, 1227; Noise is best defined contextually as any sound that obstructs intended communication — Almo Farina, Soundscape Ecology: Principles,…, 1241