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.
–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.
18.
to give the appearance of being; seem: The report sounds true.
19.
Law. to have as its basis or foundation (usually fol. by in): His action sounds in contract.
–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, esp. to complain in such a manner.
c.
to exaggerate; boast: Has he been sounding off about his golf game again?
[Origin: 1250–1300; (n.) ME soun < AF (OF son) < L sonus; (v.) ME sounen < OF suner < L sonāre, deriv. of sonus]
—Related forms
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.
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 fol. by out): Why not sound him out about working for us?
6.
Surgery. to examine, as the urinary bladder, with a sound.
–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, esp. by indirect inquiries.
–noun
11.
Surgery. a long, slender instrument for sounding or exploring body cavities or canals.
[Origin: 1300–50; ME sounden < OF sonder to plumb, deriv. of sonde sounding line < ?]
Vibrations transmitted through an elastic solid or a liquid or gas, with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing.
Transmitted vibrations of any frequency.
The sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by such vibrations in the air or other medium.
Such sensations considered as a group.
An articulation made by the vocal apparatus: a vowel sound.
The distinctive character of such an articulation: The words bear and bare have the same sound.
A distinctive noise: a hollow sound.
The distance over which something can be heard: within sound of my voice.
Linguistics
An articulation made by the vocal apparatus: a vowel sound.
The distinctive character of such an articulation: The words bear and bare have the same sound.
A mental impression; an implication: didn't like the sound of the invitation.
Auditory material that is recorded, as for a movie.
Meaningless noise.
Music A distinctive style, as of an orchestra or a singer.
Archaic Rumor; report.
v.
sound·ed, sound·ing, sounds
v.
intr.
To make or give forth a sound: The siren sounded.
To be given forth as a sound: The fanfare sounded.
To present a particular impression: That argument sounds reasonable.
v.
tr.
To cause to give forth or produce a sound: sounded the gong.
To summon, announce, or signal by a sound: sound a warning.
Linguistics To articulate; pronounce: sound a vowel.
To make known; celebrate: "Nations unborn your mighty names shall sound"(Alexander Pope).
To examine (a body organ or part) by causing to emit sound; auscultate.
Phrasal Verb(s): sound off
To express one's views vigorously: was always sounding off about higher taxes.
To count cadence when marching in military formation.
[Middle English soun, from Old French son, from Latin sonus; see swen- in Indo-European roots.]
"noise," c.1280, soun, from O.Fr. son, from L. sonus "sound," from PIE *swonos, from base *swen- "to sound" (cf. Skt. svanati "it sounds," svanah "sound, tone;" L. sonare "to sound;" O.Ir. senim "the playing of an instrument;" O.E. geswin "music, song," swinsian "to sing;" O.N. svanr, O.E. swan "swan," prop. "the sounding bird"). The final -d was established c.1350-1550 as part of a tendency to add -d- after -n-. The verb is attested from c.1300, from L. sonare, from sonus. First record of sound barrier is from 1939. Soundtrack is from 1929; sound check is from 1977; sound effects is 1909, originally live accompaniments to silent films.
"The experts of Victor ... will ... arrange for the synchronized orchestration and sound effects for this picture, in which airplane battles will have an important part." ["Exhibitor's Herald & Moving Picture World," April 28, 1928]
"uninjured," O.E. gesund "sound, safe, healthy," from P.Gmc. *sundas, from root *swen-to- (cf. O.S. gisund, O.Fris. sund, Du. gezond, O.H.G. gisunt, Ger. gesund "healthy," source of the post-sneezing interjection gesundheit; also O.E. swið "strong," Goth. swinþs "strong," Ger. geschwind "fast, quick"), with connections in Indo-Iranian and Balto-Slavic. Meaning "financially solid or safe" is attested from 1601; of sleep, "undisturbed," from 1548. Sense of "holding accepted opinions" is from 1526. Soundly "completely" is attested from 1577.
"fathom, probe," 1336 (implied in sounding), from O.Fr. sonder, from sonde "sounding line," probably from a Gmc. source (cf. O.E. sund "water, sea;" see sound (n.2)).
"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.)).
financially secure and safe; "sound investments"; "a sound economy" [ant: unsound]
2.
exercising or showing good judgment; "healthy scepticism"; "a healthy fear of rattlesnakes"; "the healthy attitude of French laws"; "healthy relations between labor and management"; "an intelligent solution"; "a sound approach to the problem"; "sound advice"; "no sound explanation for his decision" [syn: healthy]
3.
in good condition; free from defect or damage or decay; "a sound timber"; "the wall is sound"; "a sound foundation" [ant: unsound]
4.
in excellent physical condition; "good teeth"; "I still have one good leg"; "a sound mind in a sound body" [syn: good]
5.
logically valid; "a sound argument" [syn: reasoned]
6.
having legal efficacy or force; "a sound title to the property" [syn: legal]
7.
free from moral defect; "a man of sound character"
8.
(of sleep) deep and complete; "a heavy sleep"; "fell into a profound sleep"; "a sound sleeper"; "deep wakeless sleep" [syn: heavy]
9.
thorough; "a sound thrashing"
noun
1.
the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause; "the sound of rain on the roof"; "the beautiful sound of music" [ant: quiet]
2.
the subjective sensation of hearing something; "he strained to hear the faint sounds"
3.
mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium; "falling trees make a sound in the forest even when no one is there to hear them"
4.
the sudden occurrence of an audible event; "the sound awakened them"
5.
the audible part of a transmitted signal; "they always raise the audio for commercials" [syn: audio]
6.
(phonetics) an individual sound unit of speech without concern as to whether or not it is a phoneme of some language [syn: phone]
7.
a narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water [syn: strait]
8.
a large ocean inlet or deep bay; "the main body of the sound ran parallel to the coast"
verb
1.
appear in a certain way; "This sounds interesting"
2.
make a certain noise or sound; "She went 'Mmmmm'"; "The gun went 'bang'"
3.
give off a certain sound or sounds; "This record sounds scratchy"
4.
announce by means of a sound; "sound the alarm"
5.
utter with vibrating vocal chords [syn: voice] [ant: devoice]
6.
cause to sound; "sound the bell"; "sound a certain note"
7.
measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line [syn: fathom]
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