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 [sound]   Origin

sound

1   [sound]
noun
1.
the sensation produced by stimulation of the organs of hearing by vibrations transmitted through the air or other medium.
2.
mechanical vibrations transmitted through an elastic medium, traveling in air at a speed of approximately 1087 feet (331 meters) per second at sea level.
3.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause: the sound of music.
4.
any auditory effect; any audible vibrational disturbance: all kinds of sounds.
5.
a noise, vocal utterance, musical tone, or the like: the sounds from the next room.
EXPAND
6.
a distinctive, characteristic, or recognizable musical style, as from a particular performer, orchestra, or type of arrangement: the big-band sound.
7.
Phonetics.
a.
speech sound.
b.
the audible result of an utterance or portion of an utterance: the s-sound in “slight”; the sound of m in “mere.”
8.
the auditory effect of sound waves as transmitted or recorded by a particular system of sound reproduction: the sound of a stereophonic recording.
9.
the quality of an event, letter, etc., as it affects a person: This report has a bad sound.
10.
the distance within which the noise of something may be heard.
11.
mere noise, without meaning: all sound and fury.
12.
Archaic. a report or rumor; news; tidings.
COLLAPSE
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verb (used without object)
13.
to make or emit a sound.
14.
to give forth a sound as a call or summons: The bugle sounded as the troops advanced.
15.
to be heard, as a sound.
16.
to convey a certain impression when heard or read: to sound strange.
17.
to give a specific sound: to sound loud.
EXPAND
18.
to give the appearance of being; seem: The report sounds true.
19.
Law. to have as its basis or foundation (usually followed by in): His action sounds in contract.
COLLAPSE

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Sounds is always a great word to know.
So is doohickey. Does it mean:
a gadget; dingus; thingumbob.
an arrangement of five objects, as trees, in a square or rectangle, one at each corner and one in the middle.
LEARN MORE UNUSUAL WORDS WITH WORD DYNAMO...
verb (used with object)
20.
to cause to make or emit a sound: to sound a bell.
21.
to give forth (a sound): The oboe sounded an A.
22.
to announce, order, or direct by or as by a sound: The bugle sounded retreat. His speech sounded a warning to aggressor nations.
23.
to utter audibly, pronounce, or express: to sound each letter.
24.
to examine by percussion or auscultation: to sound a patient's chest.
Verb phrase
25.
sound off, Informal.
a.
to call out one's name, as at military roll call.
b.
to speak freely or frankly, especially to complain in such a manner.
c.
to exaggerate; boast: Has he been sounding off about his golf game again?
Origin:
1250–1300; (noun) Middle English soun < Anglo-French (Old French son) < Latin sonus; (v.) Middle English sounen < Old French suner < Latin sonāre, derivative of sonus

Related forms
sound·a·ble, adjective
un·sound·a·ble, adjective

Synonyms
1. Sound, noise, tone refer to something heard. Sound and noise are often used interchangeably for anything perceived by means of hearing. Sound, however, is more general in application, being used for anything within earshot: the sound of running water. Noise, caused by irregular vibrations, is more properly applied to a loud, discordant, or unpleasant sound: the noise of shouting. Tone is applied to a musical sound having a certain quality, resonance, and pitch.

Dictionary.com Unabridged

sound

3   [sound]
verb (used with object)
1.
to measure or try the depth of (water, a deep hole, etc.) by letting down a lead or plummet at the end of a line, or by some equivalent means.
2.
to measure (depth) in such a manner, as at sea.
3.
to examine or test (the bottom, as of the sea or a deep hole) with a lead that brings up adhering bits of matter.
4.
to examine or investigate; seek to fathom or ascertain: to sound a person's views.
5.
to seek to elicit the views or sentiments of (a person) by indirect inquiries, suggestive allusions, etc. (often followed by out): Why not sound him out about working for us?
EXPAND
6.
Surgery. to examine, as the urinary bladder, with a sound.
COLLAPSE
verb (used without object)
7.
to use the lead and line or some other device for measuring depth, as at sea.
8.
to go down or touch bottom, as a lead.
9.
to plunge downward or dive, as a whale.
10.
to make investigation; seek information, especially by indirect inquiries.
noun
11.
Surgery. a long, slender instrument for sounding or exploring body cavities or canals.
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English sounden < Old French sonder to plumb, derivative of sonde sounding line < ?

Related forms
sound·a·ble, adjective

sound

4   [sound]
noun
1.
a relatively narrow passage of water between larger bodies of water or between the mainland and an island: Long Island Sound.
2.
an inlet, arm, or recessed portion of the sea: Puget Sound.
3.
the air bladder of a fish.
Origin:
before 900; Middle English; Old English sund act of swimming; akin to swim

Sound

   [sound]
noun
The, a strait between SW Sweden and Zealand, connecting the Kattegat and the Baltic. 87 miles (140 km) long; 3–30 miles (5–48 km) wide.
Swedish and Danish, Oresund.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

sound
"narrow channel of water," c.1300, from O.N. sund "a strait, swimming," cognate with O.E. sund "power of swimming, water, sea," both from P.Gmc. *swumto-, from base *swem- (see swim (v.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

sound 3
n.
An instrument used to examine or explore body cavities, as for foreign bodies or other abnormalities, or to dilate strictures in them. v. sound·ed, sound·ing, sounds
To probe a body cavity with a sound.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Cite This Source
American Heritage
Science Dictionary
sound 1   (sound)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. A type of longitudinal wave that originates as the vibration of a medium (such as a person's vocal cords or a guitar string) and travels through gases, liquids, and elastic solids as variations of pressure and density. The loudness of a sound perceived by the ear depends on the amplitude of the sound wave and is measured in decibels, while its pitch depends on its frequency, measured in hertz.

  2. The sensation produced in the organs of hearing by waves of this type. See Note at ultrasound.


sound 2   (sound)  Pronunciation Key 

  1. A long, wide inlet of the ocean, often parallel to the coast. Long Island Sound, between Long Island and the coast of New England, is an example.

  2. A long body of water, wider than a strait, that connects larger bodies of water.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Slang Dictionary

sounds definition


  1. n.
    music; records. : I got some new sounds. Ya wanna come over and listen?
Dictionary of American Slang and Colloquial Expressions by Richard A. Spears.Fourth Edition.
Copyright 2007. Published by McGraw Hill.
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