0 a set of headphones, especially one with a microphone attached to it --
1 an electrical device that consists of a part that fits over a person's ears and a part into which the person can speak, used for communicating over a telephone or by radio without using the hands --
2 a piece of equipment worn on the head that allows someone to hear sound when using a phone, music, or computer system. Headsets sometimes have a microphone (= a part you speak into): --
a Bluetooth/wireless/hands-free headset
Audience members sit in a circle and wear audio headsets, through which they listen to the charismatic leader's voice and sound effects.
Telephone headsets are monaural, even for double-earpiece designs, because telephone offers only single-channel input and output.
To ensure a headset can properly pair with a telephone, telephone adapters or pin-alignment adapters are available.
Since 1991 any risk of hearing damage has been limited by the design of headsets and, although sudden noises may startle the operator, they are unlikely to be harmful.
I think in particular of developments in what is called "virtual reality", in which three-dimensional images can be created by computer and projected through a special headset.
That would help considerably with the costs that we incur for radio headsets.
But an even more ominous phenomenon is emerging—virtual reality headsets.
Often people visiting hospitals ask whether they can tune in to the hospital radio station on their own headsets.
