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sound

1  [sound]
Use sound in a Sentence
–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 ft. (331 m) 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.
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.
–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.

sound

2  [sound] adjective, -er, -est, adverb
–adjective
1. free from injury, damage, defect, disease, etc.; in good condition; healthy; robust: a sound heart; a sound mind.
2. financially strong, secure, or reliable: a sound business; sound investments.
3. competent, sensible, or valid: sound judgment.
4. having no defect as to truth, justice, wisdom, or reason: sound advice.
5. of substantial or enduring character: sound moral values.
6. following in a systematic pattern without any apparent defect in logic: sound reasoning.
7. uninterrupted and untroubled; deep: sound sleep.
8. vigorous, thorough, or severe: a sound thrashing.
9. free from moral defect or weakness; upright, honest, or good; honorable; loyal.
10. having no legal defect: a sound title to property.
11. theologically correct or orthodox, as doctrines or a theologian.
–adverb
12. deeply; thoroughly: sound asleep.
Origin:
1150–1200; ME sund, OE gesund (see y- ); c. D gezond, G gesund

Related forms:
soundly, adverb
soundness, noun

Synonyms:
1. unharmed, whole, hale, unbroken, hardy. 2. solvent. 4, 6. valid, rational, logical.

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 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 < ?

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:
bef. 900; ME; OE 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 mi. (140 km) long; 3–30 mi. (5–48 km) wide.
Swedish and Danish, Oresund.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To sound
sound 1   (sound)   
n.  
    1. 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.
    2. Transmitted vibrations of any frequency.
    3. The sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by such vibrations in the air or other medium.
    4. Such sensations considered as a group.
    5. An articulation made by the vocal apparatus: a vowel sound.
    6. The distinctive character of such an articulation: The words bear and bare have the same sound.
  2. A distinctive noise: a hollow sound.
  3. The distance over which something can be heard: within sound of my voice.
  4. Linguistics
    1. An articulation made by the vocal apparatus: a vowel sound.
    2. The distinctive character of such an articulation: The words bear and bare have the same sound.
  5. A mental impression; an implication: didn't like the sound of the invitation.
  6. Auditory material that is recorded, as for a movie.
  7. Meaningless noise.
  8. Music A distinctive style, as of an orchestra or a singer.
  9. Archaic Rumor; report.
v.   sound·ed, sound·ing, sounds

v.   intr.
    1. To make or give forth a sound: The siren sounded.
    2. To be given forth as a sound: The fanfare sounded.
  2. To present a particular impression: That argument sounds reasonable.
v.   tr.
  1. To cause to give forth or produce a sound: sounded the gong.
  2. To summon, announce, or signal by a sound: sound a warning.
  3. Linguistics To articulate; pronounce: sound a vowel.
  4. To make known; celebrate: "Nations unborn your mighty names shall sound" (Alexander Pope).
  5. To examine (a body organ or part) by causing to emit sound; auscultate.
Phrasal Verb(s):
sound off
  1. To express one's views vigorously: was always sounding off about higher taxes.
  2. To count cadence when marching in military formation.

[Middle English soun, from Old French son, from Latin sonus; see swen- in Indo-European roots.]
sound 2   (sound)   
adj.   sound·er, sound·est
  1. Free from defect, decay, or damage; in good condition.
  2. Free from disease or injury. See Synonyms at healthy.
  3. Having a firm basis; unshakable: a sound foundation.
  4. Financially secure or safe: a sound economy.
    1. Based on valid reasoning: a sound observation. See Synonyms at valid.
    2. Free from logical flaws: sound reasoning.
    3. Logic Of or relating to an argument in which all the premises are true and the conclusion follows from the premises.
  6. Thorough; complete: a sound flogging.
  7. Deep and unbroken; undisturbed: a sound sleep.
  8. Free from moral defect; upright.
  9. Worthy of confidence; trustworthy.
  10. Marked by or showing common sense and good judgment; levelheaded: a sound approach to the problem.
  11. Compatible with an accepted point of view; conservative.
  12. Law Legally valid.
adv.  Thoroughly; deeply: sound asleep.

[Middle English, from Old English gesund.]
sound'ly adv., sound'ness n.
sound 3   (sound)   
n.  
  1. Abbr. Sd.
    1. A long, relatively wide body of water, larger than a strait or a channel, connecting larger bodies of water.
    2. A long, wide ocean inlet.
  2. The air bladder of a fish.

[Middle English, from Old English sund, swimming, sea.]
sound 4   (sound)   
v.   sound·ed, sound·ing, sounds

v.   tr.
  1. To measure the depth of (water), especially by means of a weighted line; fathom.
  2. To try to learn the attitudes or opinions of: sounded out her feelings.
  3. To probe (a body cavity) with a sound.
v.   intr.
  1. To measure depth.
  2. To dive swiftly downward. Used of a whale or fish.
  3. To look into a possibility; investigate.
n.  An instrument used to examine or explore body cavities, as for foreign bodies or other abnormalities, or to dilate strictures in them.

[Middle English sounden, from Old French sonder, from sonde, sounding line, probably of Germanic origin.]
sound'a·ble adj.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Sound

Sound\, n. [AS. sund a swimming, akin to E. swim. See Swim.] The air bladder of a fish; as, cod sounds are an esteemed article of food.

Sound

Sound\, n. (Zo["o]l.) A cuttlefish. [Obs.] --Ainsworth.

Sound

Sound\, a. [Compar. Sounder; superl. Soundest.] [OE. sound, AS. sund; akin to D. gezond, G. gesund, OHG. gisunt, Dan. & Sw. sund, and perhaps to L. sanus. Cf. Sane.]

1. Whole; unbroken; unharmed; free from flaw, defect, or decay; perfect of the kind; as, sound timber; sound fruit; a sound tooth; a sound ship.

2. Healthy; not diseased; not being in a morbid state; -- said of body or mind; as, a sound body; a sound constitution; a sound understanding.

3. Firm; strong; safe.

The brasswork here, how rich it is in beams, And how, besides, it makes the whole house sound. --Chapman.

4. Free from error; correct; right; honest; true; faithful; orthodox; -- said of persons; as, a sound lawyer; a sound thinker.

Do not I know you a favorer Of this new seat? Ye are nor sound. --Shak.

5. Founded in truth or right; supported by justice; not to be overthrown on refuted; not fallacious; as, sound argument or reasoning; a sound objection; sound doctrine; sound principles.

Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me. --2 Tim. i. 13.

6. heavy; laid on with force; as, a sound beating.

7. Undisturbed; deep; profound; as, sound sleep.

8. Founded in law; legal; valid; not defective; as, a sound title to land.

Note: Sound is sometimes used in the formation of self-explaining compounds; as, sound-headed, sound-hearted, sound-timbered, etc.

Sound currency (Com.), a currency whose actual value is the same as its nominal value; a currency which does not deteriorate or depreciate or fluctuate in comparision with the standard of values.

Sound

Sound\, adv. Soundly.

So sound he slept that naught might him awake. --Spenser.

Sound

Sound\, n. [AS. sund a narrow sea or strait; akin to Icel., Sw., Dan. & G. sund, probably so named because it could be swum across. See Swim.] (Geog.) A narrow passage of water, or a strait between the mainland and an island; also, a strait connecting two seas, or connecting a sea or lake with the ocean; as, the Sound between the Baltic and the german Ocean; Long Island Sound.

The Sound of Denmark, where ships pay toll. --Camden.

Sound dues, tolls formerly imposed by Denmark on vessels passing through the Baltic Sound.

Sound

Sound\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Sounded; p. pr. & vb. n. Sounding.] [F. sonder; cf. AS. sundgyrd a sounding rod, sundline a sounding line (see Sound a narrow passage of water).]

1. To measure the depth of; to fathom; especially, to ascertain the depth of by means of a line and plummet.

2. Fig.: To ascertain, or try to ascertain, the thoughts, motives, and purposes of (a person); to examine; to try; to test; to probe.

I was in jest, And by that offer meant to sound your breast. --Dryden.

I've sounded my Numidians man by man. --Addison.

3. (Med.) To explore, as the bladder or urethra, with a sound; to examine with a sound; also, to examine by auscultation or percussion; as, to sound a patient.

Sound

Sound\, v. i. To ascertain the depth of water with a sounding line or other device.

I sound as a shipman soundeth in the sea with his plummet to know the depth of sea. --Palsgrave.

Sound

Sound\, n. [F. sonde. See Sound to fathom.] (Med.) Any elongated instrument or probe, usually metallic, by which cavities of the body are sounded or explored, especially the bladder for stone, or the urethra for a stricture.

Sound

Sound\, n. [OE. soun, OF. son, sun, F. son, fr. L. sonus akin to Skr. svana sound, svan to sound, and perh. to E. swan. Cf. Assonant, Consonant, Person, Sonata, Sonnet, Sonorous, Swan.]

1. The peceived object occasioned by the impulse or vibration of a material substance affecting the ear; a sensation or perception of the mind received through the ear, and produced by the impulse or vibration of the air or other medium with which the ear is in contact; the effect of an impression made on the organs of hearing by an impulse or vibration of the air caused by a collision of bodies, or by other means; noise; report; as, the sound of a drum; the sound of the human voice; a horrid sound; a charming sound; a sharp, high, or shrill sound.

The warlike sound Of trumpets loud and clarions. --Milton.

2. The occasion of sound; the impulse or vibration which would occasion sound to a percipient if present with unimpaired; hence, the theory of vibrations in elastic media such cause sound; as, a treatise on sound.

Note: In this sense, sounds are spoken of as audible and inaudible.

3. Noise without signification; empty noise; noise and nothing else.

Sense and not sound . . . must be the principle. --Locke.

Sound boarding, boards for holding pugging, placed in partitions of under floors in order to deaden sounds.

Sound bow, in a series of transverse sections of a bell, that segment against which the clapper strikes, being the part which is most efficacious in producing the sound. See Illust. of Bell.

Sound post. (Mus.) See Sounding post, under Sounding.

Sound

Sound\, v. i. [OE. sounen, sownen, OF. soner, suner, F. sonner, from L. sonare. See Sound a noise.]

1. To make a noise; to utter a voice; to make an impulse of the air that shall strike the organs of hearing with a perceptible effect. "And first taught speaking trumpets how to sound." --Dryden.

How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues! --Shak.

2. To be conveyed in sound; to be spread or published; to convey intelligence by sound.

From you sounded out the word of the Lord. --1 Thess. i. 8.

3. To make or convey a certain impression, or to have a certain import, when heard; hence, to seem; to appear; as, this reproof sounds harsh; the story sounds like an invention.

Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair? --Shak.

To sound in or into, to tend to; to partake of the nature of; to be consonant with. [Obs., except in the phrase To sound in damages, below.]

Soun[d]ing in moral virtue was his speech. --Chaucer.

To sound in damages (Law), to have the essential quality of damages. This is said of an action brought, not for the recovery of a specific thing, as replevin, etc., but for damages only, as trespass, and the like.

Sound

Sound\, v. t. 1. To causse to make a noise; to play on; as, to sound a trumpet or a horn.

A bagpipe well could he play and soun[d]. --Chaucer.

2. To cause to exit as a sound; as, to sound a note with the voice, or on an instrument.

3. To order, direct, indicate, or proclain by a sound, or sounds; to give a signal for by a certain sound; as, to sound a retreat; to sound a parley.

The clock sounded the hour of noon. --G. H. Lewes.

4. To celebrate or honor by sounds; to cause to be reported; to publish or proclaim; as, to sound the praises of fame of a great man or a great exploit.

5. To examine the condition of (anything) by causing the same to emit sounds and noting their character; as, to sound a piece of timber; to sound a vase; to sound the lungs of a patient.

6. To signify; to import; to denote. [Obs.] --Milton.

Soun[d]ing alway the increase of his winning. --Chaucer.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : sound
Spanish: sano, sólido, firme,
German: gesund,
Japanese: 健全な
More Translations »

sound  (n.1)
"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]

sound  (adj.)
"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.

sound  (v.)
"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)).

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.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: sound
Function: adjective
1 a : free from injury or disease : exhibiting normal health b : free from flaw, defect, or decay sound design>
2 a : free from error, fallacy, or misapprehension sound judicial reasoning> b : legally valid sound title>
3 : showing good judgment or sense —sound·ly adverb —sound·ness noun —of sound mind : having the mental capacity to make a will esp. as demonstrated by the ability to understand the nature of one's property, identify the natural objects of one's bounty, and understand the nature of the dispositions being made in the will

Main Entry: sound
Function: intransitive verb
: to be based or founded : have a specified basis for an action —used with in sounded in contract —O. W. Holmes, Junior> <sounding in tort>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Main Entry: 1sound
Pronunciation: 'saund
Function: adjective
1 : free from injury or disease : exhibiting normal health
2 : deep and undisturbed sound sleep> —sound·ness noun

Main Entry: 2sound
Function: noun
1 : a particular auditory impression sounds heard by auscultation>
2 : the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing
3 : mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (as air) and is the objectivecause of hearing

Main Entry: 3sound
Function: transitive verb
: to explore or examine (a body cavity) with a sound

Main Entry: 4sound
Function: noun
: an elongated instrument for exploring or examining body cavities sound>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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sound 1 (sound)
n.

  1. Vibrations transmitted through an elastic material or a solid, liquid, or gas, with frequencies in the range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing.
  2. Transmitted vibrations of any frequency.
  3. A distinctive noise.
v. sound·ed, sound·ing, sounds
To auscultate.

sound 2
adj.

  1. Free from defect, decay, or damage; in good condition.
  2. Free from disease or injury.

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.
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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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sound
1. audio.
2. An inference system A is sound with respect to another system B if A can only reach conclusions which are true in B. A type inference system is considered sound with respect to a semantics if the type inferred for an expression is the same as the type inferred for the meaning of that expression under the semantics.
The dual to soundness is completeness.
(1995-03-01)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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sound

In addition to the idioms beginning with sound, also see safe and sound.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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