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sounds off

 - 5 dictionary results

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 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.
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


sound⋅a⋅ble, adjective


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
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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Legal Dictionary

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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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: 4sound
Function: noun
: an elongated instrument for exploring or examining body cavities sound>
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.
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Science Dictionary
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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