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单词 sound
释义
sound1 nounsound2 verbsound3 adjectivesound4 adverb
soundsound1 /saʊnd/ ●●● S1 W1 noun Word Origin
WORD ORIGINsound1
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French son, from Latin sonus
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
  • a vowel sound
  • From the next room came the sound of laughter.
  • Some of these planes can travel faster than the speed of sound.
  • Something's wrong with the TV - you can see the pictures, but there's no sound.
  • the fascinating sights and sounds of Marrakesh
  • The only sound in the house was the ticking of the clock.
  • There's no sound coming from the TV.
  • What's that funny rattling sound coming from the back of the car?
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
  • But there were neither apologies nor regrets, and the air rang to the sound of hundreds of cheers.
  • Colourful flashing lights synchronize the sound.
  • From the kitchen came the sound of pots thrown to the floor.
  • She liked the sizzling sound of the water as it hit the stones when some one threw it from the bucket.
  • The ground mist clung closely to the hedgerows, discouraging the birds and damping down all sound.
  • What you hear will incorporate high-fidelity sound, speech synthesis, and speech recognition.
Thesaurus
THESAURUSa high sound
a very short high sound or cry: · I heard the squeak of his shoes on the tiled floor.· Annie gave a squeak of surprise.
a long high sound that something makes when someone opens it, walks on it, sits on it etc – used especially about a door, wooden floor, bed, or stairs: · the creak of floorboards· The door opened with a creak.
a loud, long, unpleasantly high sound – used especially about someone’s voice, or about brakes, tyres etc: · There was a screech of tyres followed by a bang.· She let out a screech of horror.
(also bleep British English) a high electronic sound that a machine sends out, especially in order to attract someone’s attention: · You’ll hear a bleep when the photocopier’s finished printing.
a quiet sound
a quiet low continuous sound, especially from electrical equipment, traffic, an engine, or people’s conversation: · The only sound was the faint hum of the air-conditioning unit.· He could hear the hum of distant traffic.
a continuous quiet sound from papers, leaves, or clothes when they rub together: · She heard the rustle of dried leaves behind her.· the rustle of silk dresses
a quiet low continuous sound, especially from people’s voices that are far away: · The murmur of voices died away.· They spoke in a low murmur.
a series of long low sounds, especially from big guns, traffic, or thunder: · I heard a rumble of thunder.· the low rumble of a train approaching
made by a liquid
the sound that a liquid makes when something hits it, or when it hits against another thing: · She jumped into the pool with a big splash.· the splash of the waves against the rocks
the low sound that water makes when it flows gently over or through something: · the gurgle of a stream· She listened to the gurgle as the water drained out of the bath.
the sudden short sound when something is dropped into a liquid: · Kate dropped the ice into her glass with a plop.
made by air or gas
a continuous high sound when air or gas comes out of something: · There was a hiss of steam from the coffee machine.· Workers reported hearing a loud hiss moments before the explosion.
made by an explosion, gun etc
a short sudden loud noise made by a gun, bomb etc: · There was a loud bang as the bomb exploded.· The firework went off with a bang.
a very loud sound from an explosion, which you can hear for several seconds after it begins: · The building exploded into rubble with a loud boom.· The boom of artillery fire echoed in the distance.
a continuous very loud noise that gets louder and continues for a long time: · The light was followed by the deafening roar of explosions.· the roar of the ship’s guns
made by things hitting other things
a loud sound caused especially when something hard or heavy hits something else: · I heard a loud bang and rushed out to see what had happened.· He slammed the door shut with a bang.
a very loud sound caused when something hits something else, especially when damage is caused: · The tray of dishes fell to the floor with a crash.· I heard an enormous crash outside our house, and I went to see what had happened.
a quiet low sound made when a heavy object falls down onto surface: · There was a dull thud as the box hit the floor.· His head hit the ground with a sickening thud.
a dull loud sound made when a heavy object hits something else: · There was a loud thump as Eddie threw Luther back against the wall.
a short ringing sound made when two glass, metal, or china objects hit each other: · the clink of champagne glasses· The clink of cutlery could be heard in the restaurant.
the pleasant sound that is made by light pieces of glass or metal hitting each other repeatedly: · He listened to the faint tinkle of cow bells in the distance.
the sound of small metal objects being shaken together: · the jingle of her bracelets· the jingle of keys
a short repeated sound made when things hit against each other – used especially when part of something is loose and is hitting against something: · There was a strange rattle coming from the engine.· the rattle of the trolley
Longman Language Activatora sound
something that you hear: · The only sound in the house was the ticking of the clock.· Something's wrong with the TV - you can see the pictures, but there's no sound.sound of: · From the next room came the sound of laughter.a clicking/tapping/buzzing etc sound: · What's that funny rattling sound coming from the back of the car?sights and sounds (=things that you see and hear): · the fascinating sights and sounds of Marrakesh
a sound, especially a loud or unpleasant one: · Why are the children making so much noise out there?· Are you sure you locked the door? I thought I heard a noise downstairs.noise of: · The noise of the traffic kept me awake all night.a banging/cracking/scratching etc noise: · Can you hear that funny scratching noise?a loud noise: · There was a loud cracking noise and then the chair collapsed.
using sound or connected with sound
: sound waves (=the form that sound takes when it travels) · The ear picks up sound waves and converts them into signals that it sends to the brain.sound effects (=sounds produced to make it seem that something is happening) · A tense atmosphere is easy to create on stage with some sinister music and creepy sound effects.
related to sound, especially the way in which people hear sounds - used especially in technical contexts: · Various pieces of recording equipment are used to produce interesting acoustic effects.· Deaf people get no acoustic feedback when they talk, so their speech is often impaired.
to make a sound
· I knew that if I made any sound, they would find me.· The engine made a very strange noise when I tried to start the car.make a buzzing/creaking/tapping etc sound · Every time someone opens that door, it makes a terrible creaking sound.make a sound/make a noise like · The lamb was making a sound like a baby crying.
: go bang/beep/pop etc especially spoken to make a short loud sound: · I was using the hairdryer and suddenly it went bang and stopped working.· The microwave should go ping when it's finished.
: with a bang/crash/thud etc making a loud sound: · The picture fell to the floor with a loud crash.· Rockets flew into the air and then exploded with a terrific bang.
if something goes off , it starts making a noise - use this about warning bells, clocks that tell you it is time to get up etc: · My neighbour's car alarm went off three times last night.· I get up as soon as the alarm clock goes off at 7:15.
to make a particular kind of sound - use this especially in scientific and technical contexts: · The machine emits regular bleeps which indicate the heart rate.· Sounds emitted by the dolphins were recorded with an underwater microphone.
if someone lets out a particular kind of sound, they make it, especially when something surprises, frightens, or hurts them: · "It can't be true," Maria said, letting out a sob.· A hand touched her shoulder. She let out a scream.
to make a high sound
if something creaks , especially something wooden such as a door, bed, or stair, it makes a long, high noise when someone puts pressure on it: · In the hall the floorboards creaked and the walls were damp.creak open: · The key clicked inside the lock and the door creaked open.
if something squeaks , it makes a very high noise as it is moved, pushed etc, especially because two parts of it cannot rub smoothly together: · His chair squeaked loudly as he swivelled round to face me.· The rubber soles of my shoes squeaked on the shiny floor.
to make a loud, long, unpleasant high sound, like the sound made by car tyres when the car stops suddenly: · The train screeched as it pulled into the station.
sounds made by something hitting or falling onto something
a loud sound caused especially when something hard or heavy hits something else or falls on a surface: · I heard a loud bang - it sounded like something had fallen down upstairs.make a bang: · Small children are often frightrened of fireworks that make a bang.close/land/collide etc with a bang: · The lid of the box fell shut with a bang.
the low dull sound produced when something heavy but soft hits something else or falls on a surface: · I heard a shot, followed by a thud as his body hit the floor.hit/drop/land etc with a thud: · A snowball hit her on the back of the neck with a soft thud.the thud of: · Suddenly we heard the thud of horses' hooves.
a loud sudden very sharp sound like the sound of a stick being broken: · The branch broke with a sudden crack.· As I hit the floor, I heard a loud crack in my arm.
the very loud sound produced when something hard such as metal or glass hits something else or falls on a surface, especially when damage is caused: · There was a loud crash in the bedroom and my dad started yelling.fall/land/hit etc something with a crash: · The whole tray of dishes fell to the floor with a crash.
the loud sound produced when a lot of hard things hit against each other or hit a hard surface: · The clatter in the kitchen told me that Mum was already up.fall/drop etc something with a clatter: · Bert put down his tools with a clatter, and looked round the room.the clatter of something: · Just then there was the clatter of hooves on the road outside.
the dull, fairly quiet sound produced when something such as part of your body hits something or falls against a surface: · At night, the old house seemed to be full of strange creaks and bumps.fall/sit down/hit etc something with a bump: · Martin sat down suddenly with a bump.
the dull, fairly loud sound produced when something heavy suddenly hits something else or falls hard on a surface: · There was a loud thump as Eddie threw Luther back against the wall.hit something/fall etc with a thump: · A suitcase toppled off the top of the wardrobe and landed on the floor with a thump.
sounds made by something repeatedly hitting something
the sound produced when something hard keeps hitting another hard surface: · One of the machines started to make a strange knocking sound.· The builders' knocking and hammering made it difficult for me to concentrate on my work.
the sound produced when someone keeps hitting a surface, especially a door or window, with their hand or with a hard object: rap/rapping at/on etc: · A violent rap at the door made me run downstairs.· I was kept awake by the rapping of a branch on my window.
to make a quiet irregular sound, like the sound of rain falling or quick, light steps: patter on/in etc: · Raindrops were pattering on the car roof.patter about/around (=move around with a pattering sound): · I could hear feet shuffling and pattering about upstairs.
if something rattles , it makes a hard, quickly repeated sound, especially because part of it is loose and keeps hitting against something: · There's something rattling inside the washing machine.rattle about/around (=move around with a rattling sound): · Sometimes, the bolts work loose and start rattling around.rattle along/past etc (=move somewhere making a rattling sound): · A battered old Chevrolet rattled past.
to produce a sound by lightly and repeatedly hitting a hard surface: tap on/against: · Is that someone tapping on the door?· It sounded as though something outside was tapping against the window.
sounds made by glass or metal hitting something
if something made of glass or metal clinks , it makes a short ringing sound as it hits another glass or metal object: · Their champagne glasses clinked. "Happy Anniversary Darling,'' Roger said.clink against: · She wore at least twenty bracelets, which clinked against each other every time she moved her arm.
if something heavy made of metal clanks , it makes a short, loud noise as it hits another metal object: · The train's carriages clanked and rattled as it crept into the station.· In the harbor, the boats' rigging clanked noisily in the high wind.
if something metal clangs , it makes a loud, long ringing noise when it hits another metal object: · Somewhere inside the courtyard a bell clanged.clang shut: · The prison door clanged shut again.
if a set of things jingle , especially things made of metal or glass, they make a continuous high musical sound as they hit each other: · The coins in his pocket jingled together noisily.· A herd of goats crossed the beach, the bells around their necks jingling cheerfully.
if something rings , it makes a high, loud, continuous sound after it hits another object: · If you tap something made of good glass, it should keep ringing for quite a long time.
to produce the pleasant, high, continuous sound that is made, for example, by light pieces of glass or metal hitting each other: · I rang the bell and heard it tinkle inside.· The ring fell from her hands and went tinkling across the floor.
sounds made by guns, bombs etc
a short sudden loud noise made by a gun, bomb etc: · "I heard a bang and then I heard shots," said Saxton, a tourist from Australia.loud bang: · There was a loud bang as the bomb exploded.go off/explode etc with a bang: · The firework went off with a loud bang.
an extremely loud noise that can be heard for several seconds after it begins: · The boom of cannon continued for most of the day.· There was a loud boom. The chemical works was on fire.sonic boom (=the loud noise made when a plane, spacecraft etc passes the speed of sound): · A sonic boom was heard by observers on the shore as the meteorite fell to earth.
an extremely loud noise that gets gradually louder and continues for a fairly long time: · With a great roar, the whole building was engulfed in flames.· We threw ourselves to the ground as the roar of an explosion thundered over us.
to make a very low sound, like the sound of distant thunder, that gets quieter then louder continuously: · In the distance, thunder rumbled across the sky.· The sound of rebel gunfire rumbled in the hills.
sounds made by something burning or cooking
if a fire or something burning in a fire crackles , it makes a repeated sharp sound: · A log crackled on the fire.· In the living-room, a huge fire was crackling away.
to produce the continuous sound that is made, for example by food being cooked in very hot oil: · Bacon was sizzling in the frying pan.· It was so hot that the water just sizzled and evaporated.
quiet gentle sounds
the continuous, low, quiet sound of something that is a fairly long way away or that is continuously there as well as other noises: · Jan had the radio on in the room above, but it was no more than a murmur.the murmur of something: · The murmur of distant traffic reached us when the wind was in the east.
if things such as papers, leaves, or clothes rustle , they make a continuous quiet sound as they rub against each other: · Leaves rustled in the summer breeze.· The tissue paper rustled in the silence as she unwrapped the gift.
the smooth quiet sound produced when something such as a skirt or curtains moves quickly through the air: · The magnificent red stage curtains opened with a swish.the swish of something: · Just then there was the swish of wings right above my head.
sounds made by gas or air
if something such as a tyre, ball, or part of a machine hisses , it makes a continuous high sound as air, water etc escapes from it: · Air hissed out of the tyre.· It sounded as though gas was hissing out of a pipe.
to produce the continuous high sound that is made for example by some kinds of drinks that produce bubbles when they are poured into a glass: · I dropped the tablet in the glass. It fizzed and dissolved.· The firework fizzed for a moment and then went off with a bang.
sounds made by machines, engines, cars etc
to make a continuous sound, for example, like the sound made by bees: · Police helicopters buzzed backwards and forwards over the area all day.· The whole office seemed to be buzzing with the sound of machinery.
to make a soft, low continuous sound like the sound made by some electric or electronic equipment: · The refrigerator hummed softly in the corner.· The computer was still on, humming away.
to make a fairly quiet, regular sound like something turning very quickly and beating against the air: · The video recorder whirred and rewound.· Already the plane's propellers were whirring into action.
an unpleasant long high sound, especially produced by an engine or vehicle running at very high speed: · The sky was filled with the whine and roar of bombers.
also bleep British a high, sometimes repeated, electronic sound sent out by a machine, especially in order to attract someone's attention: · You'll hear a bleep when the photocopier's finished printing.· Someone's pager beeped in the middle of the best scene in the play.
if a car, plane etc engine roars , it makes a very loud noise when it is near full power: · The Ferrari roared and shot off down the road.roar past/along etc (=move with a roaring sound): · There was the sound of a siren and several police cars roared past.
if a clock or other machine ticks , it makes a quiet, regular, repeated sound: · I find it impossible to sleep if there's a clock ticking in the room.· As usual, there was a bomb ticking somewhere and James Bond had to find it.
sounds made by bells or horns
to make a sound like that of a bell: · The phone's ringing.· A burglar alarm was ringing further along the road.· At that moment, the door bell rang.
written if a large bell tolls , it makes regular, separate ringing sounds, especially as a sign of someone's death: · The funeral procession left the church as the bells began to toll.
if a bell or clock chimes , it makes a single ringing sound or a small number of ringing sounds, especially in order to tell you what time it is: · I heard a clock chime softly in the next door room.· Across the valley, church bells were chiming.chime six/eight/twelve etc (=ring six, eight, twelve etc times to show the time): · A clock chimed six.
informal if you honk a vehicle's horn or if the horn honks , it makes a loud clear sound which continues for only a few seconds: · Several horns honked impatiently.· The truck driver honked his horn and waited.
British if you hoot a vehicle's horn, or if the horn hoots , it makes a loud clear sound which continues for only a few seconds and is like a single musical note: · A horn hooted behind me. It was Don in his little red car.· All the other drivers were tooting their horns and yelling at me to move my car.
sounds made by liquids or something wet
the sound that a liquid makes when it falls from a height, hits something hard, or is moved rapidly around: · There was a splash behind the boat as a large silver fish jumped out of the water.· Judging from the shouts and splashes coming from the pool, everyone was having a lot of fun. fall/land etc with a splash: · Ashlee fell into the river with a loud splash.
British to make a sound like someone walking in soft, wet mud, or to move somewhere making this sound: · It had been raining hard and my boots squelched as I walked across the park.squelch along/past/through etc: · Ankle deep in mud, we squelched across the meadow.squelch around: · Melvin was squelching around in the yard outside the cowshed.
if something such as a stream gurgles , it makes a low irregular sound like water flowing through a pipe: · The pipes in the attic gurgle in the night and keep me awake.· The washing machine gurgled as it changed cycles.
to make a sound like something solid falling directly into water: plop into/onto etc: · Noah threw a stone high into the air and it plopped into the river.· Several letters plopped onto the doormat.
to make the continuous repeated sound that is made, for example, by water boiling: · A large saucepan of soup was bubbling on the stove.
when a sound is repeated or continues for a long time
if a sound echoes , you hear the last part of it again because it was made in a large empty room, near a high wall etc: · I heard footsteps echoing down the corridor.
if a loud sound reverberates , or a building reverberates with a sound, the sound is repeated or continues for a fairly long time, so that the building or room where it is seems to shake: reverberate around/along/through etc: · The sound of a train passing reverberated through the house.reverberate with: · At four o'clock the school bell goes, and the whole school reverberates with the sound of running feet and slamming doors.
if something such as music or a musical instrument resonates , it makes a continuous, rich, musical sound: · The sounds of Beethoven's 5th Symphony resonated through the house.
if a very loud sound resounds , it continues for a fairly long time, filling a place with sound: · Raymond's huge laugh resounded everywhere we went.resound around/in/through etc: · As he fell, his scream resounded through the canyon.
words for describing people or machines that are quiet
if someone or something is quiet , they make little or no noise: · I want you all to be very quiet and listen carefully.· Our new washing machine is much quieter than the old one.
written not making any sound at all: · The children remained silent and watchful as the police questioned their parents.· The engine is almost silent, even at high speed, and goes like a dream.fall silent (=stop talking): · The crowd fell silent as he stood up to speak.
if you do something or something happens without a sound , you do it or it happens with no noise at all - used especially in stories and descriptions of events: · The animal remained perfectly still, watching us without a sound.· There was a final shudder, and then the ship sank without a sound.· Each man died where he stood; they fell in their tracks without a sound.
to not make any noise at all: · Sit still, and don't make a sound.without making a sound: · She managed to get into the house without making a sound.
written if you do something in silence , you do it without speaking: · Thousands of protesters stood in silence outside the prison gates.· We drank our coffee in silence.in total/complete silence: · The two of them walked all the way to Matilda's house in complete silence.
feeling worried
not feeling happy or relaxed, because you keep thinking about a problem or about something bad that might happen: · Dave could see how worried she was, and he tried to reassure her.look worried: · You look worried - what's the matter?worried about: · Marion was worried about losing her job. · We're very worried about Grandma.· I'm not really worried about how much it will cost.worried (that): · She rushed to the station, worried that she might miss her train.· I was worried if I washed it, it might shrink.get worried: · I'm getting worried because my account still hasn't registered a check I deposited a while ago.a worried look/frown/glance etc: · She had such a worried look on her face!· Helen looked at me with a worried expression.
especially written very worried because you think that something bad has happened or may happen, and you feel that you have no control over the situation: · Anxious relatives waited at the airport for news of the plane crash.feel/sound anxious: · She knew it was a simple operation, but she still felt anxious.anxious about: · Helen is always anxious about travelling alone.· When you become anxious about sleeplessness, you actually make the problem worse.an anxious face/voice/expression etc: · "Please come with me," she said in an anxious voice.· Mae cast an anxious look in his direction.
worried and slightly frightened about something that is going to happen or something new or difficult that you have to do: · I'm always nervous before exams.get nervous: · Mum gets nervous if we don't call to say we're late.look/feel/sound nervous: · Bill looked nervous, and I could see that his hands were shaking.· Harry began to feel nervous again as the plane made its descent.make somebody (feel) nervous: · The sounds outside were making me feel nervous.· Stop tapping your feet! You're making me nervous.nervous about: · Kelly was so nervous about her interview that she couldn't sleep.
worried about someone else's problems, health, safety etc: · A TV programme about cruelty to children brought hundreds of letters from concerned viewers.concerned about: · I'm very concerned about Veronica. She looks so pale, and she has no appetite.· World governments are becoming increasingly concerned about rising global temperature levels.concerned for: · Rescuers are concerned for the safety of two men trapped in the mine.
formal worried and a little frightened about something that you are going to do or about the future, because you are not sure what it will be like: · Dr Gottlieb reassures apprehensive patients that the operation is a simple procedure. apprehensive about: · I must admit that before my baby was born I was very apprehensive about motherhood.· No one need be apprehensive about their personal safety; everything is under control.
worried and not happy with a situation, because you feel there may be something wrong and you are not sure what is going to happen: make somebody uneasy: · When I answered the telephone, no one was there, which made me uneasy.feel uneasy: · After a while she started to feel uneasy, and then scared.uneasy about: · Roger was a bit uneasy about the plan, but he agreed.· 75 percent of consumers said they were uneasy about using their credit cards over the Internet.distinctly uneasy (=very uneasy): · I was distinctly uneasy in his company, but I couldn't explain why.have the/an uneasy feeling: · She had the uneasy feeling that he wasn't going to come back.
very worried, disappointed, and upset by something that has happened: · Hardeep's lawyer said his client was 'shocked and dismayed' after hearing the court's decision.dismayed at/by: · American historians are dismayed at the condition of the texts stored in the library.dismayed to see/hear etc: · We were dismayed to discover that our daughter Louise had started experimenting with heroin.dismayed that: · Danby was dismayed that Watt had opposed him in the vote.· Many of the nurses are dismayed that the management intends to make further service reductions.
informal if you do not like the look or sound of something, it makes you feel worried and unhappy because it seems threatening or dangerous: · I don't like the look of that rash on your chest.· The captain's face darkened as he listened. 'I don't like the sound of this,' he said.· Don't let anyone into your home that you don't like the look of.
WORD SETS
aerial, nounairtime, nounAM, nounantenna, nounatmospherics, nounaudio, adjectiveband, nounBBC, the, beacon, nounbeam, verbBeeb, the, bleep, verbboom, nounboom box, nounBritish Broadcasting Corporation, nounbroadband, nounbroadcast, nounbroadcast, verbcable television, CB, nounCCTV, nounCeefax, nounchannel, nounclosed circuit television, nouncommunications satellite, nouncontrast, noundial, nounDJ, nounexposure, nounflash, verbFM, nounfrequency, nounham, nounHz, interference, nounjam, verbkHz, kilohertz, nounlinkup, nounlive, adjectivelocal radio, nounlong wave, nounloudspeaker, nounLW, mast, nounmedium wave, nounmegahertz, nounMHz, modulate, verbmonitor, nounmono, nounmono, adjectiveNBC, nounnetwork, nounnetwork, verbon-air, adjectiveover, prepositionpresenter, nounprogramming, nounquadraphonic, adjectiveradio, nounradio, verbreceive, verbreceiver, nounreception, nounrepeat, verbrepeat, nounrerun, nounrerun, verbroger, interjectionsatellite, nounsatellite dish, nounsatellite television, nounsaturation, nounscrambler, nounseries, nounset, nounshipping forecast, nounship-to-shore, adjectiveshort wave, nounsignal, nounsignature tune, nounsimulcast, verbSOS, nounsound, nounsound bite, nounsound check, nounstatic, nountelecast, nounTeletext, nountelevise, verbtelevision, nountelevision licence, nountelly, nountime signal, nountrack, verbtransistor, nountransistor radio, nountransmission, nountransmit, verbtransmitter, nountune, verbtuner, nountweeter, nountwo-way, adjectiveUHF, noununscramble, verbveejay, nounvideo, nounvideo, adjectivevideo jockey, nounvolume, nounwaveband, nounwavelength, nounwhite noise, nounwireless, noun
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYadjectives
· There was a loud creaking sound and the branch snapped.
(=not loud)· The sound was so faint I wasn’t sure what it was at first.
(=very loud)· The sound of the waterfall was deafening.
· Suddenly from below came the unmistakable sound of gunfire.
· I heard a strange sound coming from outside.
· Suddenly she heard the familiar sound of the key being turned in the front door.
(=a long way away)· All seemed quiet, but for the distant sound of police sirens.
(=not clear)· Now there were muffled sounds of movement.
· There was an odd buzzing sound in her ears.
verbs
· She heard the sound of a car starting.
· The machine made a strange hissing sound.
(=be completely quiet)· He lay still and didn’t make a sound.
· The sounds seemed to be coming from the study below.
· Light travels faster than sound.
(=can be heard some distance away)· I knew the sound of the horn would would carry for miles.
· The sound stopped suddenly.
(=stops gradually)· I listened until the sound had died away completely.
COMMON ERRORSDon't say 'a strong sound'. Say a loud sound.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(=sensible)· I thought that this was sound advice.
 We’ll eat at eight. Does that sound all right to you?
 Dan came in looking very apologetic.
(=safely)· It was a great relief when he arrived back safe and sound.
(=sleeping deeply)
· A child needs a responsive mother in order to form a secure base for future development.
· Drama school may provide a sound basis for an acting career.
· Somewhere across the valley a bell sounded.
· Some of the students were starting to look bored.
(=sensible and reliable)· These ideas contained much sound common sense.
 I know this idea sounds crazy, but it may be worth a try.
 The loss of Georgia would sound the death knell of Republican hopes.
· Is Jo all right? She sounded a bit depressed.
· Sometimes you can hear the distant sound of traffic from the main road.
· The new government inherited a strong economy.
· The judge seemed embarrassed to be asking her such personal questions.
· ‘I’m sure we can do it,’ she said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
 The voice on the phone sounded familiar.
 In theory, the scheme sounds fine.
 They managed to get the business onto a more secure footing.
(=seems to be enjoyable)· The picnic sounded like fun.
 I worked out this morning and I feel great. You look great in that dress.
(=make a noise with your horn)
 The garden looked like a jungle. At last he felt like a real soldier.
 The falling snow muffled the sound of our footsteps.
· He sounded nervous and uncertain.
· This may sound obvious, but don’t forget to put your name on your paper.
 Stella was beginning to feel a little offended.
 the plaintive cry of the seagull
· I apologise for the poor sound quality of this recording.
· Jen looked relieved to see me.
(=unharmed, especially after being in danger) The missing children were found safe and sound.
· "Of course not!" he exclaimed, sounding shocked.
(=a sleep from which you cannot easily be woken)· The noise woke him from a deep sleep.
(=travel faster than the speed of sound)
 Is the building structurally sound (=in good condition)?
(=give a public warning)· The chairman sounded a warning that jobs could be lost.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· And every one gives a different sound.· Have the students experiment to see how many different sounds they can make.· There are more than 500 different sounds on the synthesizer, each of which has a complete scale on the keyboard.· The AK47 and the M16 make very different sounds.· I used a lot of different sounds for the album.· But I worry that the different sounds for the same object will confuse her.· He was driving away from me grounds of Hauser's estate when he heard a different engine sound.· Winamp too lets you set it as the default player for all different types of sound files.
· They're a familiar sound - police, ambulance, fire engine; electronic donkeys braying.· And as Gargy Patel reports, it's also provided one the city's most familiar sounds.· I thought for an incredible moment that I caught something familiar in the sound - but it couldn't be.· It was a familiar sound to her.· As the mail train thundered past and disappeared into the distance he heard the familiar sound of footsteps.· Houses have weird silhouettes in the soft rain, noises come through open windows, television voices, familiar sound tracks.· The familiar sounds brought Jehan to a sense of the place and the time.· It had become a familiar sound over the last couple of days.
· The only sound now was their feet rustling through the shore grass, coarse and hard from countless tides of salt water.· Soon the only sound came from the carousing in the hall below.· On the landing the only sound was Jos's deep snoring from the room next door.· The only sound came from the ticking of a clock.· The only other sound to be heard was the chirping of birds.· He commented patronisingly that almost the only sounds he heard from Baldwin during Cabinets were the rhythmic sucking of his pipe.· The only sounds to be heard were the sheep's teeth tearing grass and their low, rumbling bleats.· Here the only sound was the faint hum of the air-filters overhead.
VERB
· I could hear the sound of a kettle being filled.· All I want to hear is the sound of the wind rushing through this funky old tub.· And, on cue, he heard the sound of hoofbeats ` on the wind.· The first hears the most fragile sounds of the passing countryside, the other knows he is capable of the swiftest speed.· He could hear the sound of a wireless so he knew some one must be in.· Dyslexics may hear sounds but find it difficult to translate those sounds into words.· No one came, I heard no sounds.· I heard a low murmuring sound.
· He opened the door and paused for a moment, listening for sounds of Mrs Blakey.· We would lie in bed together, listening to the sounds of Paris outside.· She guessed that he had been standing at the window or listening for the sound of her key in the lock.· He listened to the muffled sound waver and fall in pitch, like a faraway siren.· Here ... Valerie listened for suspicious sounds on the tape, and despised herself for so doing.· Stark made another swing, and I closed my eyes and listened for the sounds of good golf.· Claudia lying in her hut listening for the first sounds of life.· But he was tired so he just lay there, listening to the street sounds, and waited for morning.
· Flak blotted the sky ahead, making remote grunting sounds.· The others nodded, made agreeable sounds, and drifted off down the corridor.· She remembered making the right sounds and moving like a puppet as the party began.· This made it sound to them as though color were beneath me.· Fenella, Lisabeth's younger, slimmer room-mate, had sneaked down the stairs from their flat without making a sound.· His hands over his head, he was pulling the steel headrest, his breath making a low-pitched moaning sound.· Ropes let down into it seem to go down for ever, coins dropped never make a sound, etc.
· The snow drifted down, muffling the sounds of the party, the fireworks spluttering, falling damply into the dark night.· He listened to the muffled sound waver and fall in pitch, like a faraway siren.· The volume of the music muffled the sounds of the attack, and no-one heard her screams for help.· From the other side of the wall, she could hear the low muffled sounds of the television in the next room.· This method serves a dual function - it will absorb irregularities in the existing floorboards, and also muffle sound.· If Fen entered the galley for any reason, the curtain was not sufficient barrier to muffle the sound of sobbing.· She laughed hysterically, jamming her fingers into her mouth to muffle the sound.
· There are four pianos in the pit, two with sheets of paper laid across the strings to produce dull percussive sounds.· Speaking a language involves producing sounds for others to hear, understand, and act upon.· Richie, who always lay on his back, produced a sound similar to the underwater gurgling of an old motorboat.· They produced a remarkably consistent sound for the revolving-door group.· Mackenzie went on to produce fractal sounds from sampled real world waveforms.· Leaving behind the familiar phrasings, Coltrane began to produce swirls of sound and visceral shrieks that puzzled and angered music critics.· As if by magic, a stereo disc or tape heard through headphones produces a surround of sound.· Like Jefferson, he pursued the dream of producing sound table wine from Eastern soil at affordable prices for the masses.
Phrases
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
  • Ana was trapped here, though, by the sound of it.
  • And all this provided by Summerchild, from the sound of it.
  • But by the sound of it your brothers are a hale and hearty pair.
  • But then Summerchild didn't know himself to start with, by the sound of it.
  • He heard Lee shooting them down, then him whistling. From the sound of it he was still around.
  • In the other boat, the priest had started gabbling in Latin - the Dies Irae, by the sound of it.
  • Something hissed - steam escaping, from the sound of it.
  • You've had a hard day, and by the sound of it not an easy life.
  • "There's been a slight change in our plans." "I don't like the sound of that."
  • I just did not like the sound of this woman.
  • She did not like the sound of those words he was using.
sounds
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
  • Fred Goodyear was so shocked that it was more than eight hours before he raised the alarm.
  • He sounded the alarm and the train stopped at St-Pierre-des-Corps, near Tours.
  • He was one of the earliest to sound the alarm about the fate of churches and their contents.
  • Stewart dispatched a column sounding the alarm.
  • The Big Three began sounding the alarm in a big way when January sales figures were reported.
  • They have lost no time in sounding the alarm about an impending famine, which they say threatens 1.9m people.
  • Volcanologist Pierce Brosnan and small-town mayor Linda Hamilton sound the alarm.
  • When the First Lady looked in on him and discovered he was missing, she panicked and sounded the alarm.
ambient music/soundsthe ghost of a smile/sound etc
  • Her heart took up a sickening thud.
  • One pitched out, hitting the ground with a sickening thud.
  • Then she landed on the Market Square flagstones with a sickening crash to lie motionless.
  • Then, with a sickening thud in her solar plexus, she understood.
  • They heard screams, kicks, the sickening thud of a punch, and the ogre roaring Solper's name.
the sound barrierI don’t want to sound/be ..., but ...(hear the sound of) wedding bells
1[countable, uncountable] something that you hear, or what can be heard SYN  noise:  There were strange sounds coming from the next room.sound of She could hear the sound of voices. a vowel sound2[uncountable] a)the sound produced by a television or radio programme, a film etc:  We apologize for the loss of sound during that report. a sound engineer b)the loudness of a television, radio, film etc SYN  volumeturn the sound down/up Turn the sound down a little, will you?3[countable usually singular, uncountable] the particular quality that a singer’s or group’s music has:  We’re trying to develop a harder, funkier sound.4by/from the sound of it/things judging from what you have heard or read about something:  By the sound of it, things are worse than we thought.5not like the sound of something to feel worried by something that you have heard or read:  ‘There’s been a slight change in our plans.’ ‘I don’t like the sound of that.’6sounds [plural] British English informal songs or music that are on a record, CD, or tape:  I need to buy some new sounds.7[countable usually singular] a narrow area of water that connects two larger areas of waterCOLLOCATIONSadjectivesloud· There was a loud creaking sound and the branch snapped.faint/soft (=not loud)· The sound was so faint I wasn’t sure what it was at first.deafening (=very loud)· The sound of the waterfall was deafening.distinctive/unmistakable· Suddenly from below came the unmistakable sound of gunfire.a strange sound· I heard a strange sound coming from outside.a familiar sound· Suddenly she heard the familiar sound of the key being turned in the front door.a distant sound (=a long way away)· All seemed quiet, but for the distant sound of police sirens.a muffled sound (=not clear)· Now there were muffled sounds of movement.a banging/tearing/hissing etc sound· There was an odd buzzing sound in her ears.verbshear a sound· She heard the sound of a car starting.make a sound· The machine made a strange hissing sound.not make a sound (=be completely quiet)· He lay still and didn’t make a sound.a sound comes from somewhere· The sounds seemed to be coming from the study below.sound travels· Light travels faster than sound.sound carries (=can be heard some distance away)· I knew the sound of the horn would would carry for miles.a sound stops· The sound stopped suddenly.a sound dies away (=stops gradually)· I listened until the sound had died away completely.COMMON ERRORSDon't say 'a strong sound'. Say a loud sound.THESAURUSa high soundsqueak a very short high sound or cry: · I heard the squeak of his shoes on the tiled floor.· Annie gave a squeak of surprise.creak a long high sound that something makes when someone opens it, walks on it, sits on it etc – used especially about a door, wooden floor, bed, or stairs: · the creak of floorboards· The door opened with a creak.screech a loud, long, unpleasantly high sound – used especially about someone’s voice, or about brakes, tyres etc: · There was a screech of tyres followed by a bang.· She let out a screech of horror.beep (also bleep British English) a high electronic sound that a machine sends out, especially in order to attract someone’s attention: · You’ll hear a bleep when the photocopier’s finished printing.a quiet soundhum a quiet low continuous sound, especially from electrical equipment, traffic, an engine, or people’s conversation: · The only sound was the faint hum of the air-conditioning unit.· He could hear the hum of distant traffic.rustle a continuous quiet sound from papers, leaves, or clothes when they rub together: · She heard the rustle of dried leaves behind her.· the rustle of silk dressesmurmur a quiet low continuous sound, especially from people’s voices that are far away: · The murmur of voices died away.· They spoke in a low murmur.rumble a series of long low sounds, especially from big guns, traffic, or thunder: · I heard a rumble of thunder.· the low rumble of a train approachingmade by a liquidsplash the sound that a liquid makes when something hits it, or when it hits against another thing: · She jumped into the pool with a big splash.· the splash of the waves against the rocksgurgle the low sound that water makes when it flows gently over or through something: · the gurgle of a stream· She listened to the gurgle as the water drained out of the bath.plop the sudden short sound when something is dropped into a liquid: · Kate dropped the ice into her glass with a plop.made by air or gashiss a continuous high sound when air or gas comes out of something: · There was a hiss of steam from the coffee machine.· Workers reported hearing a loud hiss moments before the explosion.made by an explosion, gun etcbang a short sudden loud noise made by a gun, bomb etc: · There was a loud bang as the bomb exploded.· The firework went off with a bang.boom a very loud sound from an explosion, which you can hear for several seconds after it begins: · The building exploded into rubble with a loud boom.· The boom of artillery fire echoed in the distance.roar a continuous very loud noise that gets louder and continues for a long time: · The light was followed by the deafening roar of explosions.· the roar of the ship’s gunsmade by things hitting other thingsbang a loud sound caused especially when something hard or heavy hits something else: · I heard a loud bang and rushed out to see what had happened.· He slammed the door shut with a bang.crash a very loud sound caused when something hits something else, especially when damage is caused: · The tray of dishes fell to the floor with a crash.· I heard an enormous crash outside our house, and I went to see what had happened.thud a quiet low sound made when a heavy object falls down onto surface: · There was a dull thud as the box hit the floor.· His head hit the ground with a sickening thud.thump a dull loud sound made when a heavy object hits something else: · There was a loud thump as Eddie threw Luther back against the wall.clink a short ringing sound made when two glass, metal, or china objects hit each other: · the clink of champagne glasses· The clink of cutlery could be heard in the restaurant.tinkle the pleasant sound that is made by light pieces of glass or metal hitting each other repeatedly: · He listened to the faint tinkle of cow bells in the distance.jingle the sound of small metal objects being shaken together: · the jingle of her bracelets· the jingle of keysrattle a short repeated sound made when things hit against each other – used especially when part of something is loose and is hitting against something: · There was a strange rattle coming from the engine.· the rattle of the trolley
sound1 nounsound2 verbsound3 adjectivesound4 adverb
soundsound2 ●●● S1 W2 verb Entry menu
MENU FOR soundsound1 seem2 noise3 voice4 warning5 make a noise6 pronounce7 measure depthPhrasal verbssound offsound somebody/something out
Word Origin
WORD ORIGINsound2
Origin:
1-5 1200-1300 Old French soner, from Latin sonare, from sonus; SOUND17 1300-1400 Old French sonder, from sonde ‘line for measuring the depth of water’
Verb Table
VERB TABLE
sound
Simple Form
PresentI, you, we, theysound
he, she, itsounds
PastI, you, he, she, it, we, theysounded
Present perfectI, you, we, theyhave sounded
he, she, ithas sounded
Past perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theyhad sounded
FutureI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill sound
Future perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill have sounded
Continuous Form
PresentIam sounding
he, she, itis sounding
you, we, theyare sounding
PastI, he, she, itwas sounding
you, we, theywere sounding
Present perfectI, you, we, theyhave been sounding
he, she, ithas been sounding
Past perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theyhad been sounding
FutureI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill be sounding
Future perfectI, you, he, she, it, we, theywill have been sounding
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
  • "We're all going clubbing tomorrow night." "That sounds like fun."
  • $50 sounds about right.
  • He sounds a pretty strange person.
  • I called my dad and told him what has happened. He sounded really angry.
  • If gas levels get too high, a warning bell will sound.
  • Istanbul sounds really exciting.
  • Jen sounded kind of tired on the phone.
  • Several earlier studies had sounded similar warnings.
  • That sounds pretty good to me.
  • The trip sounds really exciting.
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
  • Another process boils off the alcohol, which sounds painful.
  • I know that sounds very childish and naive, but think about it.
  • It sounds like the conceit of a Disney movie.
  • It sounds like the Sugarhill Gang must still be in Tokyo.
  • She had sounded so nice on the phone, not knowledgeable but pleasantly enthusiastic.
  • Your system sounds fine and will certainly support either a Coral Beauty or a Bicolor Angel.
Thesaurus
THESAURUS
a more formal word for ‘seem’: · These reports appear to be unfounded.
to seem to be something, often because of what can be seen: · The future looks bleak.· He looked pleased.
used to say that something or someone seems to be something because of what you have heard or read about them, or because of the noise or voice that you hear: · This study sounds very ambitious.· They heard what sounded like a blow.
to seem to have particular qualities: · He comes across as a very sensitive man.
Longman Language Activatora sound
something that you hear: · The only sound in the house was the ticking of the clock.· Something's wrong with the TV - you can see the pictures, but there's no sound.sound of: · From the next room came the sound of laughter.a clicking/tapping/buzzing etc sound: · What's that funny rattling sound coming from the back of the car?sights and sounds (=things that you see and hear): · the fascinating sights and sounds of Marrakesh
a sound, especially a loud or unpleasant one: · Why are the children making so much noise out there?· Are you sure you locked the door? I thought I heard a noise downstairs.noise of: · The noise of the traffic kept me awake all night.a banging/cracking/scratching etc noise: · Can you hear that funny scratching noise?a loud noise: · There was a loud cracking noise and then the chair collapsed.
using sound or connected with sound
: sound waves (=the form that sound takes when it travels) · The ear picks up sound waves and converts them into signals that it sends to the brain.sound effects (=sounds produced to make it seem that something is happening) · A tense atmosphere is easy to create on stage with some sinister music and creepy sound effects.
related to sound, especially the way in which people hear sounds - used especially in technical contexts: · Various pieces of recording equipment are used to produce interesting acoustic effects.· Deaf people get no acoustic feedback when they talk, so their speech is often impaired.
to make a sound
· I knew that if I made any sound, they would find me.· The engine made a very strange noise when I tried to start the car.make a buzzing/creaking/tapping etc sound · Every time someone opens that door, it makes a terrible creaking sound.make a sound/make a noise like · The lamb was making a sound like a baby crying.
: go bang/beep/pop etc especially spoken to make a short loud sound: · I was using the hairdryer and suddenly it went bang and stopped working.· The microwave should go ping when it's finished.
: with a bang/crash/thud etc making a loud sound: · The picture fell to the floor with a loud crash.· Rockets flew into the air and then exploded with a terrific bang.
if something goes off , it starts making a noise - use this about warning bells, clocks that tell you it is time to get up etc: · My neighbour's car alarm went off three times last night.· I get up as soon as the alarm clock goes off at 7:15.
to make a particular kind of sound - use this especially in scientific and technical contexts: · The machine emits regular bleeps which indicate the heart rate.· Sounds emitted by the dolphins were recorded with an underwater microphone.
if someone lets out a particular kind of sound, they make it, especially when something surprises, frightens, or hurts them: · "It can't be true," Maria said, letting out a sob.· A hand touched her shoulder. She let out a scream.
to make a high sound
if something creaks , especially something wooden such as a door, bed, or stair, it makes a long, high noise when someone puts pressure on it: · In the hall the floorboards creaked and the walls were damp.creak open: · The key clicked inside the lock and the door creaked open.
if something squeaks , it makes a very high noise as it is moved, pushed etc, especially because two parts of it cannot rub smoothly together: · His chair squeaked loudly as he swivelled round to face me.· The rubber soles of my shoes squeaked on the shiny floor.
to make a loud, long, unpleasant high sound, like the sound made by car tyres when the car stops suddenly: · The train screeched as it pulled into the station.
sounds made by something hitting or falling onto something
a loud sound caused especially when something hard or heavy hits something else or falls on a surface: · I heard a loud bang - it sounded like something had fallen down upstairs.make a bang: · Small children are often frightrened of fireworks that make a bang.close/land/collide etc with a bang: · The lid of the box fell shut with a bang.
the low dull sound produced when something heavy but soft hits something else or falls on a surface: · I heard a shot, followed by a thud as his body hit the floor.hit/drop/land etc with a thud: · A snowball hit her on the back of the neck with a soft thud.the thud of: · Suddenly we heard the thud of horses' hooves.
a loud sudden very sharp sound like the sound of a stick being broken: · The branch broke with a sudden crack.· As I hit the floor, I heard a loud crack in my arm.
the very loud sound produced when something hard such as metal or glass hits something else or falls on a surface, especially when damage is caused: · There was a loud crash in the bedroom and my dad started yelling.fall/land/hit etc something with a crash: · The whole tray of dishes fell to the floor with a crash.
the loud sound produced when a lot of hard things hit against each other or hit a hard surface: · The clatter in the kitchen told me that Mum was already up.fall/drop etc something with a clatter: · Bert put down his tools with a clatter, and looked round the room.the clatter of something: · Just then there was the clatter of hooves on the road outside.
the dull, fairly quiet sound produced when something such as part of your body hits something or falls against a surface: · At night, the old house seemed to be full of strange creaks and bumps.fall/sit down/hit etc something with a bump: · Martin sat down suddenly with a bump.
the dull, fairly loud sound produced when something heavy suddenly hits something else or falls hard on a surface: · There was a loud thump as Eddie threw Luther back against the wall.hit something/fall etc with a thump: · A suitcase toppled off the top of the wardrobe and landed on the floor with a thump.
sounds made by something repeatedly hitting something
the sound produced when something hard keeps hitting another hard surface: · One of the machines started to make a strange knocking sound.· The builders' knocking and hammering made it difficult for me to concentrate on my work.
the sound produced when someone keeps hitting a surface, especially a door or window, with their hand or with a hard object: rap/rapping at/on etc: · A violent rap at the door made me run downstairs.· I was kept awake by the rapping of a branch on my window.
to make a quiet irregular sound, like the sound of rain falling or quick, light steps: patter on/in etc: · Raindrops were pattering on the car roof.patter about/around (=move around with a pattering sound): · I could hear feet shuffling and pattering about upstairs.
if something rattles , it makes a hard, quickly repeated sound, especially because part of it is loose and keeps hitting against something: · There's something rattling inside the washing machine.rattle about/around (=move around with a rattling sound): · Sometimes, the bolts work loose and start rattling around.rattle along/past etc (=move somewhere making a rattling sound): · A battered old Chevrolet rattled past.
to produce a sound by lightly and repeatedly hitting a hard surface: tap on/against: · Is that someone tapping on the door?· It sounded as though something outside was tapping against the window.
sounds made by glass or metal hitting something
if something made of glass or metal clinks , it makes a short ringing sound as it hits another glass or metal object: · Their champagne glasses clinked. "Happy Anniversary Darling,'' Roger said.clink against: · She wore at least twenty bracelets, which clinked against each other every time she moved her arm.
if something heavy made of metal clanks , it makes a short, loud noise as it hits another metal object: · The train's carriages clanked and rattled as it crept into the station.· In the harbor, the boats' rigging clanked noisily in the high wind.
if something metal clangs , it makes a loud, long ringing noise when it hits another metal object: · Somewhere inside the courtyard a bell clanged.clang shut: · The prison door clanged shut again.
if a set of things jingle , especially things made of metal or glass, they make a continuous high musical sound as they hit each other: · The coins in his pocket jingled together noisily.· A herd of goats crossed the beach, the bells around their necks jingling cheerfully.
if something rings , it makes a high, loud, continuous sound after it hits another object: · If you tap something made of good glass, it should keep ringing for quite a long time.
to produce the pleasant, high, continuous sound that is made, for example, by light pieces of glass or metal hitting each other: · I rang the bell and heard it tinkle inside.· The ring fell from her hands and went tinkling across the floor.
sounds made by guns, bombs etc
a short sudden loud noise made by a gun, bomb etc: · "I heard a bang and then I heard shots," said Saxton, a tourist from Australia.loud bang: · There was a loud bang as the bomb exploded.go off/explode etc with a bang: · The firework went off with a loud bang.
an extremely loud noise that can be heard for several seconds after it begins: · The boom of cannon continued for most of the day.· There was a loud boom. The chemical works was on fire.sonic boom (=the loud noise made when a plane, spacecraft etc passes the speed of sound): · A sonic boom was heard by observers on the shore as the meteorite fell to earth.
an extremely loud noise that gets gradually louder and continues for a fairly long time: · With a great roar, the whole building was engulfed in flames.· We threw ourselves to the ground as the roar of an explosion thundered over us.
to make a very low sound, like the sound of distant thunder, that gets quieter then louder continuously: · In the distance, thunder rumbled across the sky.· The sound of rebel gunfire rumbled in the hills.
sounds made by something burning or cooking
if a fire or something burning in a fire crackles , it makes a repeated sharp sound: · A log crackled on the fire.· In the living-room, a huge fire was crackling away.
to produce the continuous sound that is made, for example by food being cooked in very hot oil: · Bacon was sizzling in the frying pan.· It was so hot that the water just sizzled and evaporated.
quiet gentle sounds
the continuous, low, quiet sound of something that is a fairly long way away or that is continuously there as well as other noises: · Jan had the radio on in the room above, but it was no more than a murmur.the murmur of something: · The murmur of distant traffic reached us when the wind was in the east.
if things such as papers, leaves, or clothes rustle , they make a continuous quiet sound as they rub against each other: · Leaves rustled in the summer breeze.· The tissue paper rustled in the silence as she unwrapped the gift.
the smooth quiet sound produced when something such as a skirt or curtains moves quickly through the air: · The magnificent red stage curtains opened with a swish.the swish of something: · Just then there was the swish of wings right above my head.
sounds made by gas or air
if something such as a tyre, ball, or part of a machine hisses , it makes a continuous high sound as air, water etc escapes from it: · Air hissed out of the tyre.· It sounded as though gas was hissing out of a pipe.
to produce the continuous high sound that is made for example by some kinds of drinks that produce bubbles when they are poured into a glass: · I dropped the tablet in the glass. It fizzed and dissolved.· The firework fizzed for a moment and then went off with a bang.
sounds made by machines, engines, cars etc
to make a continuous sound, for example, like the sound made by bees: · Police helicopters buzzed backwards and forwards over the area all day.· The whole office seemed to be buzzing with the sound of machinery.
to make a soft, low continuous sound like the sound made by some electric or electronic equipment: · The refrigerator hummed softly in the corner.· The computer was still on, humming away.
to make a fairly quiet, regular sound like something turning very quickly and beating against the air: · The video recorder whirred and rewound.· Already the plane's propellers were whirring into action.
an unpleasant long high sound, especially produced by an engine or vehicle running at very high speed: · The sky was filled with the whine and roar of bombers.
also bleep British a high, sometimes repeated, electronic sound sent out by a machine, especially in order to attract someone's attention: · You'll hear a bleep when the photocopier's finished printing.· Someone's pager beeped in the middle of the best scene in the play.
if a car, plane etc engine roars , it makes a very loud noise when it is near full power: · The Ferrari roared and shot off down the road.roar past/along etc (=move with a roaring sound): · There was the sound of a siren and several police cars roared past.
if a clock or other machine ticks , it makes a quiet, regular, repeated sound: · I find it impossible to sleep if there's a clock ticking in the room.· As usual, there was a bomb ticking somewhere and James Bond had to find it.
sounds made by bells or horns
to make a sound like that of a bell: · The phone's ringing.· A burglar alarm was ringing further along the road.· At that moment, the door bell rang.
written if a large bell tolls , it makes regular, separate ringing sounds, especially as a sign of someone's death: · The funeral procession left the church as the bells began to toll.
if a bell or clock chimes , it makes a single ringing sound or a small number of ringing sounds, especially in order to tell you what time it is: · I heard a clock chime softly in the next door room.· Across the valley, church bells were chiming.chime six/eight/twelve etc (=ring six, eight, twelve etc times to show the time): · A clock chimed six.
informal if you honk a vehicle's horn or if the horn honks , it makes a loud clear sound which continues for only a few seconds: · Several horns honked impatiently.· The truck driver honked his horn and waited.
British if you hoot a vehicle's horn, or if the horn hoots , it makes a loud clear sound which continues for only a few seconds and is like a single musical note: · A horn hooted behind me. It was Don in his little red car.· All the other drivers were tooting their horns and yelling at me to move my car.
sounds made by liquids or something wet
the sound that a liquid makes when it falls from a height, hits something hard, or is moved rapidly around: · There was a splash behind the boat as a large silver fish jumped out of the water.· Judging from the shouts and splashes coming from the pool, everyone was having a lot of fun. fall/land etc with a splash: · Ashlee fell into the river with a loud splash.
British to make a sound like someone walking in soft, wet mud, or to move somewhere making this sound: · It had been raining hard and my boots squelched as I walked across the park.squelch along/past/through etc: · Ankle deep in mud, we squelched across the meadow.squelch around: · Melvin was squelching around in the yard outside the cowshed.
if something such as a stream gurgles , it makes a low irregular sound like water flowing through a pipe: · The pipes in the attic gurgle in the night and keep me awake.· The washing machine gurgled as it changed cycles.
to make a sound like something solid falling directly into water: plop into/onto etc: · Noah threw a stone high into the air and it plopped into the river.· Several letters plopped onto the doormat.
to make the continuous repeated sound that is made, for example, by water boiling: · A large saucepan of soup was bubbling on the stove.
when a sound is repeated or continues for a long time
if a sound echoes , you hear the last part of it again because it was made in a large empty room, near a high wall etc: · I heard footsteps echoing down the corridor.
if a loud sound reverberates , or a building reverberates with a sound, the sound is repeated or continues for a fairly long time, so that the building or room where it is seems to shake: reverberate around/along/through etc: · The sound of a train passing reverberated through the house.reverberate with: · At four o'clock the school bell goes, and the whole school reverberates with the sound of running feet and slamming doors.
if something such as music or a musical instrument resonates , it makes a continuous, rich, musical sound: · The sounds of Beethoven's 5th Symphony resonated through the house.
if a very loud sound resounds , it continues for a fairly long time, filling a place with sound: · Raymond's huge laugh resounded everywhere we went.resound around/in/through etc: · As he fell, his scream resounded through the canyon.
to ask someone a question
· If you have any questions, don't be afraid to ask.· For information about the new drug, ask your doctor.ask (somebody) if/whether · I was a little surprised when he asked me if I was married.ask (somebody) about something · They'll probably just ask you about your education and work experience.ask (somebody) what/how/why etc · What should I tell people if they ask me why you didn't come to the party?ask (somebody) a question · At the end of the presentation you'll all have a chance to ask questions.
to ask for information or advice from someone, because it is their job to know about it: · Before starting any exercise program, you should consult your doctor.consult with: · The President is going to consult with European leaders before making his decision.consult somebody about something: · We've consulted with several engineers about the best way to support the bridge.
to ask something - use this especially when you are reporting what someone else has asked: · "Why didn't you write to me?" Barbara wanted to know.· The policeman wanted to know their names, but they wouldn't tell him.want to know about: · Everybody in the office wanted to know about my trip.want to know where/how/why etc: · Jason wants to know where you keep the kitchen scissors.
also enquire especially British formal to ask someone for information about something, especially someone whose job is to know about it: · "Where is the director's office?" he enquired.· We inquired at all the hotels in town, but we couldn't find Carol anywhere.inquire about: · Several people have phoned the personnel department to inquire about the position.inquire if/whether: · She stopped a guard and enquired whether the train went to Evesham.inquire how/when etc: · We rang the hospital again to inquire how the old man was.
to find out what someone thinks about your plan or idea by asking them questions, especially because you want their help or support: sound somebody out: · I think she'll like the idea, but you'd better sound her out first.sound out somebody: · Before launching the project, they sounded out a number of leading experts.sound out about/on: · The board of directors have sounded him out about taking the CEO position.
to deliberately ask someone a question that they find difficult or embarrassing to answer: · The reporter's questions were clearly designed to put the Senator on the spot.· I don't want to put you on the spot, but I'm really curious about how you know Tim.
to seem
if someone or something seems happy, dishonest, true etc, that is what you think they are, even though you are not completely certain: seem nice/happy/strange etc (to somebody): · Katie seems happy at her new school.· The whole situation seems very strange to me.seem to be/do something: · Lack of money seems to be the main problem.· Ricky graduated, but didn't seem to know what to do with his life. He was drifting.it seems (that)/it seems to somebody (that) (=use this to say what you think about a situation): · It seems that someone forgot to lock the door.· It seemed to Jim that Amy was worried about something.seem like especially spoken (=seem to be): · Kevin seems like a nice guy.· "Why did you move to New York?" "It seemed like a good idea at the time."there seems to be: · There seems to be something wrong with the TV.it seems as if: · There were so many delays - it seemed as if we would never get home.it seems likely/possible/probable (that): · It seems likely that they will release the hostages soon.
formal to seem: appear to be/do something: · My father appeared to be in good health.· The archaeologists uncovered both domestic structures and what appear to have been commercial buildings.appear calm/rude/angry etc: · It's difficult to ask someone their age without appearing rude.· The city appeared calm after the previous night's fighting.it appears (that): · Police said it appeared that John Seidler's death was an accident, but an investigation continues.
if someone or something looks good, bad, tired etc, that is how they seem to you when you look at them: · That book looks interesting.· Warren looked tired after his long drive.· We had run out of money, and the situation looked pretty hopeless.look like something: · She's really pretty - she looks like a model.· The burglar was holding what looked like a shotgun.look as if: · You look as if you haven't slept all night.it looks as if (=use this to say how a situation seems to you): · It looks as if we are going to need more help.
if someone or something sounds good, bad, strange, angry etc, that is how they seem to you when you hear about them, read about them, or hear them: · Istanbul sounds really exciting.· He sounds a pretty strange person.· I called my dad and told him what has happened. He sounded really angry. sound like: · "We're all going clubbing tomorrow night." "That sounds like fun." it sounds (to me) as if (=use this to say how a situation seems to you when you hear about it): · It sounds to me as if he needs to see a doctor.
to seem to have particular qualities or characteristics, especially because of the way you talk to or behave towards other people: · In the book, Strayhorn comes across as a sympathetic human being, while Stan Getz emerges as a volatile character with a violent temper.come across as being something: · He often comes across as being rather cold and arrogant.come across well/badly: · She doesn't come across well in interviews, but she's very good at her job.
if someone or something gives the impression that something about them is true, they make other people think it is true, especially when it is not: give the impression (that): · Paul liked to give everyone the impression that he knew a lot about cars.· We always leave the lights on when we go out at night, to give the impression there's someone in the house.give the impression of: · Mirrors are used in the dining room in order to give the impression of space.
if a person or situation strikes you as strange, interesting, unusual etc, this is your opinion of how they seem: · What strikes me as odd is the fact that she didn't report the burglary to the police.· She didn't strike me as the type who would want to become a teacher.strike somebody as being/having something: · He never struck me as being very interested in politics.
if someone or something shows signs of age, improvement, tiredness etc, some features of their appearance or behaviour make them seem old, better, tired etc: · The economy is showing no signs of any improvement.· Doctors at the hospital say Mr Crowther is beginning to show signs of recovery, although he is still in intensive care.show signs of doing something: · If the soil shows signs of drying out, water it sparingly.
if a thing or event has all the hallmarks of something, it has all the typical features of someone's work or actions, and therefore seems to have been done or made by them: · The explosion has all the hallmarks of a terrorist attack.· The painting isn't signed by Matisse, but it has all the hallmarks of one of his later works.
to seem to involve or be caused by a particular attitude, feeling, or intention, especially a bad one: · The government's new asylum bill seems inhumane, and smacks of racism.· The chairman's decision is disturbing, and smacks of dishonesty.
to warn someone about something
to tell someone about something unpleasant or dangerous that might happen, so that they can avoid it or prevent it: · We tried to warn her, but she refused to listen.· The consequences could be serious - I just wanted to warn you.warn (that): · The local people were warned that the volcano might erupt at any time.· We were warned there were going to be delays on the motorway, so we came back by a different route.warn somebody about something especially spoken: · I was going for a swim, until the people in the hotel warned me about the jellyfish.warn (somebody) of something especially written: · Weather forecasters warned of possible flooding in coastal regions.warn somebody (not) to do something: · Police are warning drivers not to go out on the roads unless their journey is really necessary.warn somebody against doing something: · Tourists are warned against going to remoter regions.
to tell someone that if they continue to behave in an unsatisfactory way, they will be punished: · So you've given her a warning about her conduct in future?give sb a warning that: · The US gave a warning that, if the hostages were not released, they would be forced to take military action.give somebody a final warning: · One day Monica's boss gave her a final warning. If she messed up again, she was fired.
to try to prevent someone from doing something by warning them about the trouble or problems it could cause for them: warn somebody off: · The army had put signs up around the area where the mines were, to warn people off.warn somebody off doing something: · Even though we'd been warned off going into the mountains, we couldn't resist it.warn off somebody: · The female rattlesnake warns off intruders by making a loud noise.
formal to warn someone not to do something because it is likely to be dangerous or have a bad result: · "Be careful now," Sarah cautioned. "Don't do anything stupid."caution somebody against doing something: · The policeman cautioned the children against talking to strangers.caution against (doing) something: · Marshall cautioned against pouring millions of pounds into taking legal action when there was no guarantee of victory.
to warn someone about something that is going to happen, especially to warn the police about a crime, so that they can try to prevent it: be tipped off about: · The police had been tipped off about the gang's arrival.be tipped off that: · Customs officers had been tipped off that the drugs were hidden in a child's rucksack.tip somebody off: · Someone must have tipped the press off about the princess's visit. tip off somebody: · A farmer noticed our foreign accents and tipped off the Security Police.
to officially or publicly warn people of possible danger so that they can be ready to deal with it: · When he realized that one engine was not working, the pilot alerted air traffic control.alert somebody to something: · a poster campaign to alert people to the diseasealert somebody that: · Drivers are being alerted that an escaped prisoner has been seen hitch-hiking on the road to Frankfurt.
to warn everyone about something bad or dangerous that is already happening so that they can take action to stop it or avoid it: · Leighton was told to stand at the door, and to raise the alarm if a guard came.sound/raise the alarm about: · The Red Cross has sounded the alarm about the danger of further famine in the region.· The problem is that if you sound the alarm about fraud in your company, you might end up out of a job.
formal to warn someone about something bad that is going to happen soon, so that they have enough time to prepare for it: · Barry Hearn forewarned me that the meeting was going to be tough.be forewarned of something: · A police team, forewarned of the raid, had taken up positions inside the bank.
spoken say this when you had warned someone about a possible danger that has now happened, especially if they ignored your warning: · I told you he had a violent temper! Why did you argue with him?· I told you so! It was obvious she was going to disappear as soon as she got the money.· I hate to say "I told you so", but maybe you should listen to me next time.
WORD SETS
acronym, nounadage, nounaffricate, nounagglutination, nounalphanumeric, adjectiveanglophone, nounantecedent, nounantonym, nounaphorism, nounarchaism, nounargot, nounaspirate, verbaspirate, nounaspiration, nounassonance, nounbaby talk, nounback, adjectiveback formation, nounbilabial, nounbody language, nouncant, nouncliché, nouncognate, adjectivecognate, nouncollocate, verbcollocation, nouncolloquial, adjectivecombining form, nouncompound, nounconcordance, nounconnotation, nounconsonant, nouncontext, nouncontraction, nouncorpus, noundative, noundeclarative, adjectivedecline, verbdecode, verbdescriptive, adjectivediction, noundiminutive, noundiminutive suffix, noundiphthong, nounelide, verbellipsis, nounelocution, nounemphasis, nounencode, verbenunciate, verb-ese, suffixetymology, nouneuphemism, nouneuphemistic, adjectiveexpression, nounfigurative, adjectivefirst language, nounformal, adjectivefricative, noungender, nounglide, nounglottal stop, nounhard, adjectivehieroglyphics, nounhigh-level, adjectivehomograph, nounhomonym, nounhomophone, nounhyperbole, nounideogram, nounidiolect, nounidiom, nounidiomatic, adjectiveinflection, nounintonation, nounIPA, nounironic, adjectivejargon, nounlabial, nounlanguage, nounlegalese, nounlexical, adjectivelexicography, nounlexicon, nounlexis, nounlingua franca, nounlinguist, nounlinguistic, adjectivelinguistics, nounlip-read, verbloanword, nounlocution, nounlong, adjectivemaxim, nounmetalanguage, nounmispronounce, verbmnemonic, nounmonosyllabic, adjectivemonosyllable, nounmorpheme, nounmorphology, nounnasal, adjectivenasal, nounneologism, nounneutral, adjectivenonce, adjectivenon-standard, adjectivenonverbal, adjectiveofficialese, nounonomatopoeia, nounopen vowel, nounorientalist, nounoxymoron, nounpalindrome, nounparagraph, nounparaphrase, verbparaphrase, nounphilology, nounphoneme, nounphonemics, nounphonetic, adjectivephonetics, nounphonic, adjectivephonology, nounphrasal, adjectivephraseology, nounpidgin, nounplosive, nounpolyglot, adjectivepolysemous, adjectivepolysyllabic, adjectiveportmanteau word, nounpragmatics, nounpreliterate, adjectivepre-verbal, adjectiveprimary stress, nounpronounce, verbpronounceable, adjectivepronunciation, nounproverb, nounpsychobabble, nounReceived Pronunciation, nounrecitation, nounregister, nounretroflex, adjectiveRP, nounschwa, nounsecondary stress, nounsecond language, nounsemantic, adjectivesemantics, nounsemiotics, nounsemi-vowel, nounshort, adjectivesibilant, adjectivesibilant, nounsic, adverbsilent, adjectivesimile, nounslang, nounsound, verbspeech, nounspeech therapy, nounspell, verbspelling, nounspoonerism, nounstandard, adjectivestem, nounstop, nounstress, nounstress, verbstressed, adjectivestress mark, nounstructuralism, nounstylistics, nounsuperlative, nounsyllabic, adjectivesyllable, nounsynonym, nounsynonymous, adjectivetechnical, adjectiveterminology, nounthesaurus, nountone, nountone language, nountoneless, adjectivetongue, nountranscribe, verbtranscription, nountrope, noununpronounceable, adjectiveunstressed, adjectiveunvoiced, adjectiveusage, nounuse, verbuse, nounvelar, adjectivevocabulary, nounvoiceless, adjectivevowel, noun
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY
 I’ll come over to Richmond and take you out for dinner. How does that sound (=used to ask someone what they think of your suggestion)?
 I heard what sounded like fireworks.
 Several earlier studies had sounded similar warnings.
 I would, however, sound a note of caution.
 Now it is an American economist who is sounding the alarm.
 She was unable to sound the alarm.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(=sensible)· I thought that this was sound advice.
 We’ll eat at eight. Does that sound all right to you?
 Dan came in looking very apologetic.
(=safely)· It was a great relief when he arrived back safe and sound.
(=sleeping deeply)
· A child needs a responsive mother in order to form a secure base for future development.
· Drama school may provide a sound basis for an acting career.
· Somewhere across the valley a bell sounded.
· Some of the students were starting to look bored.
(=sensible and reliable)· These ideas contained much sound common sense.
 I know this idea sounds crazy, but it may be worth a try.
 The loss of Georgia would sound the death knell of Republican hopes.
· Is Jo all right? She sounded a bit depressed.
· Sometimes you can hear the distant sound of traffic from the main road.
· The new government inherited a strong economy.
· The judge seemed embarrassed to be asking her such personal questions.
· ‘I’m sure we can do it,’ she said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
 The voice on the phone sounded familiar.
 In theory, the scheme sounds fine.
 They managed to get the business onto a more secure footing.
(=seems to be enjoyable)· The picnic sounded like fun.
 I worked out this morning and I feel great. You look great in that dress.
(=make a noise with your horn)
 The garden looked like a jungle. At last he felt like a real soldier.
 The falling snow muffled the sound of our footsteps.
· He sounded nervous and uncertain.
· This may sound obvious, but don’t forget to put your name on your paper.
 Stella was beginning to feel a little offended.
 the plaintive cry of the seagull
· I apologise for the poor sound quality of this recording.
· Jen looked relieved to see me.
(=unharmed, especially after being in danger) The missing children were found safe and sound.
· "Of course not!" he exclaimed, sounding shocked.
(=a sleep from which you cannot easily be woken)· The noise woke him from a deep sleep.
(=travel faster than the speed of sound)
 Is the building structurally sound (=in good condition)?
(=give a public warning)· The chairman sounded a warning that jobs could be lost.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
· It sounds almost like an adumbration of gravitation.· As he tells it, it does sound almost like a stage farce.· When her assailant spoke he sounded almost offended, which struck Rachel as strange since she appeared to be the injured party.· It sounds almost like a storybook story.· It's the same sort of sound but much lower in volume and pitch - it almost sounds like a stomach rumbling.· So far, this probably sounds almost too simple.· So a belief that there were Communists in the Army could be made to sound almost plausible.
· BShields used to undermine her fiction by sounding as if she were inhaling the microphone.· The ads never distracted listeners from the music but could sound as wild and greasy and cool as the platters played alongside.· Never mind nature taking its course, it sounds as though you're plotting to seduce him.· Their voices sounded as if they should be coming from the mouths of cute, fuzzy characters on some Saturday morning cartoon.· I called, got through and spoke to a man who sounded as ordinary and as sane as I thought I was.· Kantner and Palmer participated in a media conference call Wednesday and sounded as if they had undergone proper corporate indoctrination.· His voice was nasal, to the extent that it sounded as if there was a clothes peg clipped on to his nose.· Amazingly, he sounded as if that was exactly what he meant.
· But he has, making it sound like a golden lacework surrounding the crystalline vocals of Carol Kidd.· That was what she sounded like to me, like a woman squealing.· Pretty Samantha Mumba sounded like she has a distinctive voice.· Unfortunately, it sounds like yours is in the latter category.· He sounded like he had never felt better in his life.· His eloquent description makes it sound like a building that any community would be proud to have in its midst.· A beautiful dish, it is more or less what it sounds like, sticky rice wrapped in green striated lotus leaves.· Domestic violence, I said, was what it sounded like to me.
· Even the people sounded more Southern than Western.· No, it sounded more as if she was being forced to protect some one, maybe Keith.· Elizabeth Hanford Dole often acts and sounds more like a candidate than the candidate.· Already they've scaled up their fluid star-burst psychedelia into something that sounds more suited to outdoor festivals than stuffed solid mini-venues.· He sounded more Tolstoyan than all the rest of us.· Now his incantations of the old slogans of national independence and identity sounded more and more hollow.· Another class that sounded more adventurous was located in Cambridge.
· Although it sounds quite funny picking up children and carrying them can be tricky when you can hardly walk.· Some of these questions may sound quite sophisticated and too advanced for many people.· He sounded quite normal when he phoned, just annoyed about the holiday.· Put like that it didn't sound quite so convincing.· It doesn't sound quite as good as education, education, education.· Given identical soundboards, lutes made of cherry and rosewood will sound quite different.· He made it sound quite an ordinary request and I didn't like to ask why.· Some were like herself, some were from the suburbs and some sounded quite posh.
· It sounds rather pompous, I dare say, but I think it was the beginning of understanding without knowing.· I was forced to admit that put that way, it did sound rather absurd.· It is also suggested as a weapon against parasites, but this does sound rather hazardous!· He suddenly sounded rather standoffish and said he would not need to be picked up.· Sitting watching it Digby was forced to confess that it did sound rather radical.· It sounded rather apologetic and explicitly underlined that it was nothing to do with Bagshaw.· As we look around the world, that might sound rather hollow.· Lebed, indeed, can sound rather restrained.
· It's one of those Jabberwocky-type words that just sounds right.· Just then a foghorn sounded right clear.· He sounds right, politically and otherwise.· If it sounds right, it is right!· Q.. How do you know when a song sounds right?· Forster reached for his mask, just as the hissing gas noise sounded right on top of him, ending with a little shriek.· And vice versa all those prepared speeches that look good on paper-they never sound right when read from a podium.
· And anyway don't sound so surprised.· It sounds so much like the record.· Soloff has never sounded so good-his tone fat and full, his range phenomenal.· She had sounded so nice on the phone, not knowledgeable but pleasantly enthusiastic.· I feared that it sounded so small.· Ludens had sounded so moved, so stirred by some emotion.· Chords which would sound thick and dull on the piano do not sound so on the harp.
· Without sounding too clichéd about it, there should be more to it than that.· Sure enough, they noticed an ad for a business opportunity that sounded too good to be true.· Sorry if I didn't sound too keen at first.· If it sounds too good to be true I assure you it's not.· But you might be surprised that it doesn't sound too bad either.· He was right in a way, it wouldn't sound too good in court.
· Unless they were very good actors, they sounded very convincing to me when they said they were innocent.· It was starting to sound very familiar.· But it didn't sound very convincing; and I was afraid he wouldn't buy any of his pictures anywhere.· I know that sounds very childish and naive, but think about it.· It sounds very small in relation to the costs of war, but so do most budgets.· In such letters he sounded very much himself-direct, sincere, kind, and eager to dispel any possible misunderstanding.· That doesn't sound very nice.· In his recent appearances, Yeltsin has looked vigorous and sounded very much in charge.
NOUN
· But video films of fires carried out on the test rig suggest that alarms will sound too late.· This alarm sounds like a gigantic pencil-sharpener grinding up something awful.· The alarm was sounded in time.· If temperatures rise too high or machine speeds fall too low, an alarm sounds a warning before the system breaks down.· A 12-hour alarm sounds off at your command.· The alarm bells had been sounded, the news was being fast disseminated.· She tensed; as if some buried defence had been touched by this ultimate surrender, some distant alarm bell sounded.
· The passing bell is sounding for the mass extinction of species.· Miss Bradley, first bell has sounded.· Even so, alarm bells are beginning to sound at Westminster.· A bell sounded in the church at Gushibov, either calling Gentiles to Mass or because they were carrying out a corpse.· A bell sounded somewhere in the house but there was no response.· We kissed, and every time the bell tower sounded, we listened attentively.· Swallows fought under the eaves outside the window, a lonely bell sounded, and Corbett heard faint shouts from the courtyard.· A fog bell sounds in the distance.
· The driver sounded his horn furiously as the taxi sped on.· To help the doggies along, Mercer sounds a horn that emits an ear-piercing wail from his plane.· Oscar sounded his deafening horn three times and the gates to the yard swung open.· In his failure to sound the horn in time there is tragedy, but it is not of a very complicated kind.· Santerre sounded the horn and led the excited hunters down the hill.· It is not permitted to sound a car horn after a certain hour.· Down in the drive some one was sounding a car horn.· The driver sounded his horn frantically.
· Some retailers sounded a note of caution.· We may have to sound a warning note of challenge as well as minister a word of comfort.· Calvary's pipe organs are poised to sound somber notes of mourning for Earnhardt.· For example, a modulating theme may sound nonsensical without other notes which guide the harmonic flow.· When the plane crashed, it sounded a note that harmonized with the disaster of my early life.· Our third theme will, however, sound several notes of caution.· From somewhere in the valley, a trumpet sounded four wavering notes.
· I remember my tongue shedding its skin like a snake, my voice in the classroom sounding just like the rest.· He said that it hurt badly and that his voice sounded funny.· Robert Dexter obviously expected that shocked reaction because his voice sounded infinitely soothing, even formal.· Their voices sounded as if they should be coming from the mouths of cute, fuzzy characters on some Saturday morning cartoon.· As if it had been swallowed up.That was how that voice had sounded to him all those years ago.· His voice sounded a little hurt.· Her own voice sounded totally unlike her own, her mouth dry, her throat thick and choked with emotion.· Connors's voice sounded above the crackle of his own machine-gun fire.
· It is worth sounding a warning to those who are part of a tightly-knit family unit.· But its 1993 report sounded some warnings and suggested that governments consider advisory votes for controversial projects.· We may have to sound a warning note of challenge as well as minister a word of comfort.· If temperatures rise too high or machine speeds fall too low, an alarm sounds a warning before the system breaks down.· Reigning champions Denbighshire soared to a 118runs win over Merionethshire at Gwersyllt to sound an early warning to their challengers.· In the echoing stillness of the hall at Colcutt Manor it sounded like the four-minute warning.
VERB
· What was the trouble today? she wondered, as impatient horn blasts began to sound.· Then her phone calls became increasingly infrequent and she began to sound increasing remote.· Old Fakrid's hardly been gone two time units and already our clever First Pilot has begun to sound exactly like him.· Then the other two began to sound ragged.· We didn't make Abisko, chickening out as the weather worsened and the forecasts began to sound even more dire.· After a while it began to sound like Bill was just growing accustomed to getting a rise out of people.· The Big Three began sounding the alarm in a big way when January sales figures were reported.
· He heard what sounded like a stifled cry of pain from a shriller voice; then the commotion beside him resumed once more.· When I straightened up I heard a slight sound behind me.· I would like to hear it as it sounded while it was passing.· They heard what sounded like a blow.· I hear his play-flight sounds in the distance.· Then, through the rain, she heard a scratching sound, followed by a sharp, impatient bark.· Downriver, they heard what sounded like an avalanche.
· Terribly difficult not to make it sound like a silly joke.· Kirilenko made it sound like a scholarly aside.· You make it sound as if we're about eighty.· They made him sound like a homicidal monster.· Dryden makes him sound a monument of dullness; in reality he is brisk, lively and journalistic.· She slid it along the counter toward him, making skidding sounds when it reached his arm.· I've not heard that for quite a while and its unfamiliarity makes it sound strange.· His eloquent description makes it sound like a building that any community would be proud to have in its midst.
· When he tries to sound fiercer he sometimes sounds peevish or wheedling.· I asked, trying to sound chipper.· A crooner in a John Collier suit was trying to sound like Vince Hill.· I tried to sound assured, but her expression unnerved me.· Mr Annan tried to sound upbeat in the rest of his report.· Ralph tried to sound hearty and enthusiastic, but his voice struggled from him like a half-drowned river rat.· So I try to sound interested.· Mrs Boatwright tried to sound casual.
Phrases
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
  • Fred Goodyear was so shocked that it was more than eight hours before he raised the alarm.
  • He sounded the alarm and the train stopped at St-Pierre-des-Corps, near Tours.
  • He was one of the earliest to sound the alarm about the fate of churches and their contents.
  • Stewart dispatched a column sounding the alarm.
  • The Big Three began sounding the alarm in a big way when January sales figures were reported.
  • They have lost no time in sounding the alarm about an impending famine, which they say threatens 1.9m people.
  • Volcanologist Pierce Brosnan and small-town mayor Linda Hamilton sound the alarm.
  • When the First Lady looked in on him and discovered he was missing, she panicked and sounded the alarm.
ambient music/soundsthe ghost of a smile/sound etc
  • Her heart took up a sickening thud.
  • One pitched out, hitting the ground with a sickening thud.
  • Then she landed on the Market Square flagstones with a sickening crash to lie motionless.
  • Then, with a sickening thud in her solar plexus, she understood.
  • They heard screams, kicks, the sickening thud of a punch, and the ogre roaring Solper's name.
the sound barrierI don’t want to sound/be ..., but ...(hear the sound of) wedding bells
1seem [linking verb] if something or someone sounds good, bad, strange etc, that is how they seem to you when you hear about them or read about themsound adj Istanbul sounds really exciting. The whole story sounded very odd. $80 sounds about right for a decent hotel room.sound noun British English That sounds a good idea.sound like Nick sounds like a nice guy.it sounds as if/as though It sounds to me as if he needs professional help.it sounds like informal It sounds like you had a good time on your trip. I’ll come over to Richmond and take you out for dinner. How does that sound (=used to ask someone what they think of your suggestion)? faraway places with strange-sounding names2noise [linking verb] if a noise sounds like a particular thing, that is how it seems to you when you hear itsound like To Thomas, her laugh sounded horribly like a growl. I heard what sounded like fireworks.sound adj Her breathing sounded very loud.(it) sounds as if/as though The banging sounded as if it was coming from next door.(it) sounds like informal It sounds like the dog wants to be let out.3voice [linking verb] if someone sounds tired, happy, sad etc, that is how they seem to you when you hear their voicesound adj Are you okay? You sound tired. Josie didn’t sound very keen when I spoke to her. Her voice sounded very young.sound as if/as though You sound as if you’ve got a cold.sound like informal She sounded like she’d been crying.sound like You sound just like my mother (=the things you say, opinions you express etc are just like the things my mother says).4warning [transitive] to publicly give a warning or tell people to be careful:  Several earlier studies had sounded similar warnings.sound a note of caution/warning I would, however, sound a note of caution. Now it is an American economist who is sounding the alarm.5make a noise [intransitive, transitive] if something such as a horn or bell sounds, or if you sound it, it makes a noise:  The bell sounded for dinner. Sound your horn to warn other drivers. She was unable to sound the alarm.6pronounce [transitive] technical to make the sound of a letter in a word:  The ‘s’ in ‘island’ is not sounded.GRAMMAR Sound is usually passive in this meaning.7measure depth [transitive] technical to measure the depth of the sea, a lake etcsoundingsGRAMMAR: Linking verbsSound is a linking verb. This type of verb links the subject of the sentence with an adjective or noun: · That sounds ridiculous.· It sounds a good idea.sound off phrasal verb1informal to express strong opinions about something, especially when you complain angrily in a way that other people find rude or boringsound off about She’s always sounding off about too much sex in the media. He should check his facts before sounding off.2American English if soldiers sound off, they shout out numbers or their names to show that they are theresound somebody/something ↔ out phrasal verb to talk to someone in order to find out what they think about a plan or idea:  He sounded people out and found the responses favourable. They want to sound out his opinion before they approach him formally.sound out about I wanted to sound her out about a job that I'm thinking of applying for.
sound1 nounsound2 verbsound3 adjectivesound4 adverb
soundsound3 ●●○ W3 adjective Entry menu
MENU FOR soundsound1 well-judged2 person3 thorough4 in good condition5 healthy6 sleep
Word Origin
WORD ORIGINsound3
Origin:
Old English gesund
Examples
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
  • A tense atmosphere is easy to create on stage with some sinister music and creepy sound effects.
  • Is recycling glass a sound idea?
  • The company offers sound financial advice to individuals and businesses.
  • The ear picks up sound waves and converts them into signals that it sends to the brain.
  • There is no sound reason for the closure of this factory.
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
  • At one minute before the start a sound signal is made.
  • Because he's sound, thought Mayta.
  • I believe that this trend will spread and that it is based on very sound educational grounds.
  • Pragmatism as a conception of law does not stipulate which of these various visions of good community are sound or attractive.
  • The importance of sound recruitment and selection can not therefore be overstressed.
  • There may on occasions be sound educational reasons for adopting a style of interaction in which unfocused questions predominate.
  • Throughout the eighties some officials displayed a tendency to overdo the latest idea, often itself not particularly sound.
Thesaurus
Longman Language Activatora sound
something that you hear: · The only sound in the house was the ticking of the clock.· Something's wrong with the TV - you can see the pictures, but there's no sound.sound of: · From the next room came the sound of laughter.a clicking/tapping/buzzing etc sound: · What's that funny rattling sound coming from the back of the car?sights and sounds (=things that you see and hear): · the fascinating sights and sounds of Marrakesh
a sound, especially a loud or unpleasant one: · Why are the children making so much noise out there?· Are you sure you locked the door? I thought I heard a noise downstairs.noise of: · The noise of the traffic kept me awake all night.a banging/cracking/scratching etc noise: · Can you hear that funny scratching noise?a loud noise: · There was a loud cracking noise and then the chair collapsed.
using sound or connected with sound
: sound waves (=the form that sound takes when it travels) · The ear picks up sound waves and converts them into signals that it sends to the brain.sound effects (=sounds produced to make it seem that something is happening) · A tense atmosphere is easy to create on stage with some sinister music and creepy sound effects.
related to sound, especially the way in which people hear sounds - used especially in technical contexts: · Various pieces of recording equipment are used to produce interesting acoustic effects.· Deaf people get no acoustic feedback when they talk, so their speech is often impaired.
to make a sound
· I knew that if I made any sound, they would find me.· The engine made a very strange noise when I tried to start the car.make a buzzing/creaking/tapping etc sound · Every time someone opens that door, it makes a terrible creaking sound.make a sound/make a noise like · The lamb was making a sound like a baby crying.
: go bang/beep/pop etc especially spoken to make a short loud sound: · I was using the hairdryer and suddenly it went bang and stopped working.· The microwave should go ping when it's finished.
: with a bang/crash/thud etc making a loud sound: · The picture fell to the floor with a loud crash.· Rockets flew into the air and then exploded with a terrific bang.
if something goes off , it starts making a noise - use this about warning bells, clocks that tell you it is time to get up etc: · My neighbour's car alarm went off three times last night.· I get up as soon as the alarm clock goes off at 7:15.
to make a particular kind of sound - use this especially in scientific and technical contexts: · The machine emits regular bleeps which indicate the heart rate.· Sounds emitted by the dolphins were recorded with an underwater microphone.
if someone lets out a particular kind of sound, they make it, especially when something surprises, frightens, or hurts them: · "It can't be true," Maria said, letting out a sob.· A hand touched her shoulder. She let out a scream.
to make a high sound
if something creaks , especially something wooden such as a door, bed, or stair, it makes a long, high noise when someone puts pressure on it: · In the hall the floorboards creaked and the walls were damp.creak open: · The key clicked inside the lock and the door creaked open.
if something squeaks , it makes a very high noise as it is moved, pushed etc, especially because two parts of it cannot rub smoothly together: · His chair squeaked loudly as he swivelled round to face me.· The rubber soles of my shoes squeaked on the shiny floor.
to make a loud, long, unpleasant high sound, like the sound made by car tyres when the car stops suddenly: · The train screeched as it pulled into the station.
sounds made by something hitting or falling onto something
a loud sound caused especially when something hard or heavy hits something else or falls on a surface: · I heard a loud bang - it sounded like something had fallen down upstairs.make a bang: · Small children are often frightrened of fireworks that make a bang.close/land/collide etc with a bang: · The lid of the box fell shut with a bang.
the low dull sound produced when something heavy but soft hits something else or falls on a surface: · I heard a shot, followed by a thud as his body hit the floor.hit/drop/land etc with a thud: · A snowball hit her on the back of the neck with a soft thud.the thud of: · Suddenly we heard the thud of horses' hooves.
a loud sudden very sharp sound like the sound of a stick being broken: · The branch broke with a sudden crack.· As I hit the floor, I heard a loud crack in my arm.
the very loud sound produced when something hard such as metal or glass hits something else or falls on a surface, especially when damage is caused: · There was a loud crash in the bedroom and my dad started yelling.fall/land/hit etc something with a crash: · The whole tray of dishes fell to the floor with a crash.
the loud sound produced when a lot of hard things hit against each other or hit a hard surface: · The clatter in the kitchen told me that Mum was already up.fall/drop etc something with a clatter: · Bert put down his tools with a clatter, and looked round the room.the clatter of something: · Just then there was the clatter of hooves on the road outside.
the dull, fairly quiet sound produced when something such as part of your body hits something or falls against a surface: · At night, the old house seemed to be full of strange creaks and bumps.fall/sit down/hit etc something with a bump: · Martin sat down suddenly with a bump.
the dull, fairly loud sound produced when something heavy suddenly hits something else or falls hard on a surface: · There was a loud thump as Eddie threw Luther back against the wall.hit something/fall etc with a thump: · A suitcase toppled off the top of the wardrobe and landed on the floor with a thump.
sounds made by something repeatedly hitting something
the sound produced when something hard keeps hitting another hard surface: · One of the machines started to make a strange knocking sound.· The builders' knocking and hammering made it difficult for me to concentrate on my work.
the sound produced when someone keeps hitting a surface, especially a door or window, with their hand or with a hard object: rap/rapping at/on etc: · A violent rap at the door made me run downstairs.· I was kept awake by the rapping of a branch on my window.
to make a quiet irregular sound, like the sound of rain falling or quick, light steps: patter on/in etc: · Raindrops were pattering on the car roof.patter about/around (=move around with a pattering sound): · I could hear feet shuffling and pattering about upstairs.
if something rattles , it makes a hard, quickly repeated sound, especially because part of it is loose and keeps hitting against something: · There's something rattling inside the washing machine.rattle about/around (=move around with a rattling sound): · Sometimes, the bolts work loose and start rattling around.rattle along/past etc (=move somewhere making a rattling sound): · A battered old Chevrolet rattled past.
to produce a sound by lightly and repeatedly hitting a hard surface: tap on/against: · Is that someone tapping on the door?· It sounded as though something outside was tapping against the window.
sounds made by glass or metal hitting something
if something made of glass or metal clinks , it makes a short ringing sound as it hits another glass or metal object: · Their champagne glasses clinked. "Happy Anniversary Darling,'' Roger said.clink against: · She wore at least twenty bracelets, which clinked against each other every time she moved her arm.
if something heavy made of metal clanks , it makes a short, loud noise as it hits another metal object: · The train's carriages clanked and rattled as it crept into the station.· In the harbor, the boats' rigging clanked noisily in the high wind.
if something metal clangs , it makes a loud, long ringing noise when it hits another metal object: · Somewhere inside the courtyard a bell clanged.clang shut: · The prison door clanged shut again.
if a set of things jingle , especially things made of metal or glass, they make a continuous high musical sound as they hit each other: · The coins in his pocket jingled together noisily.· A herd of goats crossed the beach, the bells around their necks jingling cheerfully.
if something rings , it makes a high, loud, continuous sound after it hits another object: · If you tap something made of good glass, it should keep ringing for quite a long time.
to produce the pleasant, high, continuous sound that is made, for example, by light pieces of glass or metal hitting each other: · I rang the bell and heard it tinkle inside.· The ring fell from her hands and went tinkling across the floor.
sounds made by guns, bombs etc
a short sudden loud noise made by a gun, bomb etc: · "I heard a bang and then I heard shots," said Saxton, a tourist from Australia.loud bang: · There was a loud bang as the bomb exploded.go off/explode etc with a bang: · The firework went off with a loud bang.
an extremely loud noise that can be heard for several seconds after it begins: · The boom of cannon continued for most of the day.· There was a loud boom. The chemical works was on fire.sonic boom (=the loud noise made when a plane, spacecraft etc passes the speed of sound): · A sonic boom was heard by observers on the shore as the meteorite fell to earth.
an extremely loud noise that gets gradually louder and continues for a fairly long time: · With a great roar, the whole building was engulfed in flames.· We threw ourselves to the ground as the roar of an explosion thundered over us.
to make a very low sound, like the sound of distant thunder, that gets quieter then louder continuously: · In the distance, thunder rumbled across the sky.· The sound of rebel gunfire rumbled in the hills.
sounds made by something burning or cooking
if a fire or something burning in a fire crackles , it makes a repeated sharp sound: · A log crackled on the fire.· In the living-room, a huge fire was crackling away.
to produce the continuous sound that is made, for example by food being cooked in very hot oil: · Bacon was sizzling in the frying pan.· It was so hot that the water just sizzled and evaporated.
quiet gentle sounds
the continuous, low, quiet sound of something that is a fairly long way away or that is continuously there as well as other noises: · Jan had the radio on in the room above, but it was no more than a murmur.the murmur of something: · The murmur of distant traffic reached us when the wind was in the east.
if things such as papers, leaves, or clothes rustle , they make a continuous quiet sound as they rub against each other: · Leaves rustled in the summer breeze.· The tissue paper rustled in the silence as she unwrapped the gift.
the smooth quiet sound produced when something such as a skirt or curtains moves quickly through the air: · The magnificent red stage curtains opened with a swish.the swish of something: · Just then there was the swish of wings right above my head.
sounds made by gas or air
if something such as a tyre, ball, or part of a machine hisses , it makes a continuous high sound as air, water etc escapes from it: · Air hissed out of the tyre.· It sounded as though gas was hissing out of a pipe.
to produce the continuous high sound that is made for example by some kinds of drinks that produce bubbles when they are poured into a glass: · I dropped the tablet in the glass. It fizzed and dissolved.· The firework fizzed for a moment and then went off with a bang.
sounds made by machines, engines, cars etc
to make a continuous sound, for example, like the sound made by bees: · Police helicopters buzzed backwards and forwards over the area all day.· The whole office seemed to be buzzing with the sound of machinery.
to make a soft, low continuous sound like the sound made by some electric or electronic equipment: · The refrigerator hummed softly in the corner.· The computer was still on, humming away.
to make a fairly quiet, regular sound like something turning very quickly and beating against the air: · The video recorder whirred and rewound.· Already the plane's propellers were whirring into action.
an unpleasant long high sound, especially produced by an engine or vehicle running at very high speed: · The sky was filled with the whine and roar of bombers.
also bleep British a high, sometimes repeated, electronic sound sent out by a machine, especially in order to attract someone's attention: · You'll hear a bleep when the photocopier's finished printing.· Someone's pager beeped in the middle of the best scene in the play.
if a car, plane etc engine roars , it makes a very loud noise when it is near full power: · The Ferrari roared and shot off down the road.roar past/along etc (=move with a roaring sound): · There was the sound of a siren and several police cars roared past.
if a clock or other machine ticks , it makes a quiet, regular, repeated sound: · I find it impossible to sleep if there's a clock ticking in the room.· As usual, there was a bomb ticking somewhere and James Bond had to find it.
sounds made by bells or horns
to make a sound like that of a bell: · The phone's ringing.· A burglar alarm was ringing further along the road.· At that moment, the door bell rang.
written if a large bell tolls , it makes regular, separate ringing sounds, especially as a sign of someone's death: · The funeral procession left the church as the bells began to toll.
if a bell or clock chimes , it makes a single ringing sound or a small number of ringing sounds, especially in order to tell you what time it is: · I heard a clock chime softly in the next door room.· Across the valley, church bells were chiming.chime six/eight/twelve etc (=ring six, eight, twelve etc times to show the time): · A clock chimed six.
informal if you honk a vehicle's horn or if the horn honks , it makes a loud clear sound which continues for only a few seconds: · Several horns honked impatiently.· The truck driver honked his horn and waited.
British if you hoot a vehicle's horn, or if the horn hoots , it makes a loud clear sound which continues for only a few seconds and is like a single musical note: · A horn hooted behind me. It was Don in his little red car.· All the other drivers were tooting their horns and yelling at me to move my car.
sounds made by liquids or something wet
the sound that a liquid makes when it falls from a height, hits something hard, or is moved rapidly around: · There was a splash behind the boat as a large silver fish jumped out of the water.· Judging from the shouts and splashes coming from the pool, everyone was having a lot of fun. fall/land etc with a splash: · Ashlee fell into the river with a loud splash.
British to make a sound like someone walking in soft, wet mud, or to move somewhere making this sound: · It had been raining hard and my boots squelched as I walked across the park.squelch along/past/through etc: · Ankle deep in mud, we squelched across the meadow.squelch around: · Melvin was squelching around in the yard outside the cowshed.
if something such as a stream gurgles , it makes a low irregular sound like water flowing through a pipe: · The pipes in the attic gurgle in the night and keep me awake.· The washing machine gurgled as it changed cycles.
to make a sound like something solid falling directly into water: plop into/onto etc: · Noah threw a stone high into the air and it plopped into the river.· Several letters plopped onto the doormat.
to make the continuous repeated sound that is made, for example, by water boiling: · A large saucepan of soup was bubbling on the stove.
when a sound is repeated or continues for a long time
if a sound echoes , you hear the last part of it again because it was made in a large empty room, near a high wall etc: · I heard footsteps echoing down the corridor.
if a loud sound reverberates , or a building reverberates with a sound, the sound is repeated or continues for a fairly long time, so that the building or room where it is seems to shake: reverberate around/along/through etc: · The sound of a train passing reverberated through the house.reverberate with: · At four o'clock the school bell goes, and the whole school reverberates with the sound of running feet and slamming doors.
if something such as music or a musical instrument resonates , it makes a continuous, rich, musical sound: · The sounds of Beethoven's 5th Symphony resonated through the house.
if a very loud sound resounds , it continues for a fairly long time, filling a place with sound: · Raymond's huge laugh resounded everywhere we went.resound around/in/through etc: · As he fell, his scream resounded through the canyon.
ideas that are logical
ideas, decisions etc that are logical are based on a series of facts or ideas connected in a correct and intelligent way: · Your essay ought to take the form of a logical argument.· There is no logical reason for teaching boys and girls separately.take something to its logical conclusion: · If you took the anti-war arguments to their logical conclusion, you would destroy all weapons.it is logical to do something: · If they did not leave until yesterday, then it is logical to assume that they will arrive some time tomorrow.
reasons, ideas, advice etc that are sound are logical and sensible, and it is easy to agree with them or believe that they are right: · The company offers sound financial advice to individuals and businesses.· Is recycling glass a sound idea?· There is no sound reason for the closure of this factory.
an idea, decision or plan that makes sense is logical and easy to understand: · His arguments seem to make sense.it makes sense for something to happen: · It would make sense for the parents to be involved in this discussion.
a way of thinking, explanation, idea etc that is rational is very logical and is based on clear practical or scientific reasons, rather than on your feelings or wishes: · We're looking for someone with a rational approach to dealing with problems.· There must be some rational explanation for this apparently bizarre phenomenon.· There appears to be no rational motive for the attack.
something that is reasonable seems to be logical and likely to be true because of what you know of the situation: · It is a reasonable assumption that she knew him well, as she had the keys to his house.· Given that the patient smokes 50 cigarettes a day, it would be reasonable to assume there is some lung damage.
a reasoned way of thinking about something is logical and has been thought about very carefully: · We must have an informed and reasoned debate of the moral issues involved.· It became clear that calm, reasoned arguments were not working in this volatile situation.
a well-thought-out plan or way of doing something is carefully and logically planned: · Before we can apply for funding, we must have strong, well-thought-out proposals.· a well-thought-out strategy
words, thoughts or ideas that are coherent are arranged in an order that makes them easy to understand: · He couldn't give a coherent account of what he'd been doing that night.· His book contains a coherent argument in favour of economic change.
informal if a piece of writing or an explanation hangs together , it is easy to understand because its parts are connected in a way that seems natural and logical: · Her story doesn't hang together very well.
informal if a set of facts add up , they are logically connected so they provide a reasonable explanation of a situation: · I can see now that George was planning this all along - it all adds up.
not mentally ill
not mentally ill, so that you are able to make sensible decisions and lead your life in a normal way: · Of course he isn't mad. He's as sane as you or I.· No sane person would believe such garbage!perfectly sane (=completely sane): · To his neighbours, Peter appeared perfectly sane.
when you are mentally healthy: · If you have your health and your sanity, money isn't really important.· I began to doubt Donald's sanity as his story got stranger and stranger.
a legal expression meaning not mentally ill and able to be responsible for your decisions and actions: · You are allowed to vote only if you are over 18 and of sound mind.
Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYnouns
· He gave us some sound advice.
· He was beginning to rely on her sound judgment.
· Both these buyers have sound reasons for their choice.
· Property is usually a sound investment.
· The problems of industry will only be solved by sound economic policies.
· Sometimes friendship is a sound basis for a good marriage.
adverbs
· The government encourages environmentally sound management of the countryside.
(=good, according to a set of beliefs)· It was the ideologically sound thing to do.
· Are these studies scientifically sound?
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(=sensible)· I thought that this was sound advice.
 We’ll eat at eight. Does that sound all right to you?
 Dan came in looking very apologetic.
(=safely)· It was a great relief when he arrived back safe and sound.
(=sleeping deeply)
· A child needs a responsive mother in order to form a secure base for future development.
· Drama school may provide a sound basis for an acting career.
· Somewhere across the valley a bell sounded.
· Some of the students were starting to look bored.
(=sensible and reliable)· These ideas contained much sound common sense.
 I know this idea sounds crazy, but it may be worth a try.
 The loss of Georgia would sound the death knell of Republican hopes.
· Is Jo all right? She sounded a bit depressed.
· Sometimes you can hear the distant sound of traffic from the main road.
· The new government inherited a strong economy.
· The judge seemed embarrassed to be asking her such personal questions.
· ‘I’m sure we can do it,’ she said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
 The voice on the phone sounded familiar.
 In theory, the scheme sounds fine.
 They managed to get the business onto a more secure footing.
(=seems to be enjoyable)· The picnic sounded like fun.
 I worked out this morning and I feel great. You look great in that dress.
(=make a noise with your horn)
 The garden looked like a jungle. At last he felt like a real soldier.
 The falling snow muffled the sound of our footsteps.
· He sounded nervous and uncertain.
· This may sound obvious, but don’t forget to put your name on your paper.
 Stella was beginning to feel a little offended.
 the plaintive cry of the seagull
· I apologise for the poor sound quality of this recording.
· Jen looked relieved to see me.
(=unharmed, especially after being in danger) The missing children were found safe and sound.
· "Of course not!" he exclaimed, sounding shocked.
(=a sleep from which you cannot easily be woken)· The noise woke him from a deep sleep.
(=travel faster than the speed of sound)
 Is the building structurally sound (=in good condition)?
(=give a public warning)· The chairman sounded a warning that jobs could be lost.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
· It's smart, effective, ecologically sound and it does pop in such a thirst-rousing way.· Governing bodies in Oakland, San Francisco and Berkeley approved resolutions urging the company to adopt ecologically sound procurement policies.· Working with nature is clearly practical, as well as ecologically sound.· They consider that unless the farming methods are tackled, no clothing industry can claim that its product is ecologically sound.· Improved public funding for ecologically sound land management was also discussed, as were criteria for reaching high environmental standards.
· Subsidies for production will gradually be replaced with green premium payments to promote environmentally sound management of the countryside.· One such factor is economic: Poor nations are simply unable to afford environmentally sound consumption and production practices.· The Guild consists of around 140 writers and winning projects have to be environmentally sound as well as contributing something to the local economy.· Developing countries need environmentally sound technologies to honour their sustainability commitments under the Convention.· Unlike the downhill sport, this is cheap and environmentally sound.· By keeping the tidal mudflats, the conservationists argue, the development will be both more imaginative and environmentally sound.· The decision on the channel tunnel rail link was environmentally sound.
· To qualify for membership, a company must prove that: it is established and financially sound.· It maintains that the amount has already been accounted for and that it remains financially sound.· Emphasis will be placed on identifying well-managed, financially sound growth companies in niche areas.
· They're ideologically sound, although sometimes they don't look it, know what I mean?
· There predicament is complicated by the far larger number of owners who can not sell perfectly sound concrete houses.· Still, given our fondness for gunning each other down, fearing the sight of blood seems perfectly sound.· Her ears, she claimed, were perfectly sound.· They're shallow and rather rough, but there's no smell of death or disease and they're perfectly sound.· His judgement was, after all, perfectly sound.
· According to the board, Ocean Ranger was structurally sound and should have been able to weather the storm.· But a state judge ruled the buildings were structurally sound and allowed squatters to remain.· The authority insists that the two storey buildings are structurally sound and safe.· What you want to know is: Is the building structurally sound and weatherproof?
· The first criticism is that, although key settlement policies are theoretically sound, they have been poorly implemented in practice.· Such analysis provides is with a relatively precise, and theoretically sound methodology for dealing with perceivable changes in character.
· The Prime Minister My hon. Friend makes a very sound point.· The reasoning was very sensible, the logic very sound, and it was fatefully wrong.· It could prove a very sound investment if he ever decides to sell it again.· A very sound investment compared to plasterboards of the same thickness.· Surely leasing or selling to Fulham would be very sound, Instead of being owners of a derelict ground.· Some people are very sound but can formulate opinions only after prolonged consideration.· However, despite some very sound features, the scheme foundered due to lack of organizational backing for its revision.· Bullen's reasons for doing this were actually very sound.
NOUN
· However, the market is highly specialised and it is important to operate only on the basis of sound advice.· Even when commenting on the poor service in the hotel he genuinely attempts to offer sound advice.· They have both made very substantial contributions to the progress of the Group and we will miss their sound advice.· Laura Lee's article was well balanced and gave sound advice on a variety of ways forward.· Any reader wanting the right detector to suit his pocket and plenty of sound advice is welcome to give me a ring.· Their quality of work is excellent and they offer good, sound advice.· The days when bank managers ranked with doctors in local communities because of sound advice and fair treatment of customers have long gone.· In his own inimitable style, Oz provides sound advice on best buys and stockists.
· We are satisfied that the Group's recommendations represent a sound basis for legislation and we propose no changes.· Yet, relations with Washington are on an extremely sound basis and there is a glimmer of improvement with Seoul.· Fear and anxiety, then, may have a sound basis.· Training in local government offers you a sound basis for career flexibility.· That is a sound basis for setting out to communicate, persuade, sell or argue.· There is a sound basis behind her success.· Here, the fact that a conflict of interest is abused is not in itself a sound basis for regulation.· This will be a sound basis for the School Development Plan described in the previous chapter.
· Making a business succeed is not simple - even the best ideas and skills need detailed planning and sound business sense.· The owner must have either an established business desiring to expand or a sound business plan.· Educational assistance not only benefits the individual - it also makes sound business sense.
· Bricks and mortar used to much more than a sound investment - it was the best way to make serious money.· It could prove a very sound investment if he ever decides to sell it again.· A very sound investment compared to plasterboards of the same thickness.· Time spent on this aspect is a very sound investment in the ferrets' future performance.· It was a sound investment by Watford, because Wilkinson topped the club's scoring charts for three successive seasons.· It was really a sound investment, a first class mortgage, with very good security.· As a former building contractor, he had an eye for a sound investment in bricks and mortar.
· He was also beginning to rely very heavily on her sound judgement on a number of things.· The important thing is to harness growth to self-knowledge, a ready acceptance of change, swift-moving business practice and sound judgement.· An elegant study, combining sound judgement of Trollope's characterisation with an excellent discursive style.· This is sound judgement but nothing beyond the reach of average mortals.· It was an entirely sound judgement.
· It would be a far sounder policy to run down western reprocessing.· Fifth, sound policy must address the provision of adequate, secure cycle parking.
· It is therefore necessary for nurses to base their practice on sound principles grounded in research.· It is exactly that willful abuse of discipline that will undermine an otherwise sound principle.
· There are sound reasons for using consultants.· There is a sound reason for rewording that clause, because that is too frequent an occurrence in day-to-day life in prison.· While obviously the fixed charge accords superior protection, there are sound reasons for taking a floating charge.· There were sound reasons for this view.· As long as a strong argument or sound reasons are given for your opinions they will stand on their own.· Unless there are sound reasons for so doing, it does not make sense to go outside the established channel.· There is a very sound reason for this provision.· As mentioned in the previous section, there are sound reasons for the slowdown in big-city population decline.
Phrases
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
  • Fred Goodyear was so shocked that it was more than eight hours before he raised the alarm.
  • He sounded the alarm and the train stopped at St-Pierre-des-Corps, near Tours.
  • He was one of the earliest to sound the alarm about the fate of churches and their contents.
  • Stewart dispatched a column sounding the alarm.
  • The Big Three began sounding the alarm in a big way when January sales figures were reported.
  • They have lost no time in sounding the alarm about an impending famine, which they say threatens 1.9m people.
  • Volcanologist Pierce Brosnan and small-town mayor Linda Hamilton sound the alarm.
  • When the First Lady looked in on him and discovered he was missing, she panicked and sounded the alarm.
ambient music/soundsthe ghost of a smile/sound etc
  • Her heart took up a sickening thud.
  • One pitched out, hitting the ground with a sickening thud.
  • Then she landed on the Market Square flagstones with a sickening crash to lie motionless.
  • Then, with a sickening thud in her solar plexus, she understood.
  • They heard screams, kicks, the sickening thud of a punch, and the ogre roaring Solper's name.
the sound barrierI don’t want to sound/be ..., but ...(hear the sound of) wedding bells
1well-judged sensible or good, and likely to produce the right results OPP  poor:  The book is full of sound advice. a man of great integrity and sound judgementecologically/ideologically/theoretically etc sound environmentally sound farming practices a sound investment2person British English a)someone who is sound can be depended on to make good decisions and give good advicesound on He’s very sound on matters of law. b)informal someone who is sound is a good person and can be trusted – used especially by young people:  My mum’s sound. She’d never throw me out.3thorough [only before noun] complete and thorough:  a sound understanding of money and banking systems a sound knowledge of English He has a sound grasp of European history.4in good condition in good condition and not damaged in any way OPP  unsound:  The floor was completely sound. Is the building structurally sound?sound as a bell British English spoken (=in perfect condition)5healthy physically or mentally healthy OPP  unsoundof sound mind law (=not mentally ill)sound as a bell British English spoken (=in perfect health)6sleep sound sleep is deep and peacefulsound sleeper (=someone who always sleeps well)soundness noun [uncountable]COLLOCATIONSnounssound advice· He gave us some sound advice.sound judgment· He was beginning to rely on her sound judgment.a sound reason· Both these buyers have sound reasons for their choice.a sound investment· Property is usually a sound investment.a sound policy· The problems of industry will only be solved by sound economic policies.a sound basis· Sometimes friendship is a sound basis for a good marriage.adverbsenvironmentally/ecologically sound· The government encourages environmentally sound management of the countryside.ideologically sound (=good, according to a set of beliefs)· It was the ideologically sound thing to do.scientifically/technically sound· Are these studies scientifically sound?
sound1 nounsound2 verbsound3 adjectivesound4 adverb
soundsound4 adverb Collocations
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
(=sensible)· I thought that this was sound advice.
 We’ll eat at eight. Does that sound all right to you?
 Dan came in looking very apologetic.
(=safely)· It was a great relief when he arrived back safe and sound.
(=sleeping deeply)
· A child needs a responsive mother in order to form a secure base for future development.
· Drama school may provide a sound basis for an acting career.
· Somewhere across the valley a bell sounded.
· Some of the students were starting to look bored.
(=sensible and reliable)· These ideas contained much sound common sense.
 I know this idea sounds crazy, but it may be worth a try.
 The loss of Georgia would sound the death knell of Republican hopes.
· Is Jo all right? She sounded a bit depressed.
· Sometimes you can hear the distant sound of traffic from the main road.
· The new government inherited a strong economy.
· The judge seemed embarrassed to be asking her such personal questions.
· ‘I’m sure we can do it,’ she said, trying to sound enthusiastic.
 The voice on the phone sounded familiar.
 In theory, the scheme sounds fine.
 They managed to get the business onto a more secure footing.
(=seems to be enjoyable)· The picnic sounded like fun.
 I worked out this morning and I feel great. You look great in that dress.
(=make a noise with your horn)
 The garden looked like a jungle. At last he felt like a real soldier.
 The falling snow muffled the sound of our footsteps.
· He sounded nervous and uncertain.
· This may sound obvious, but don’t forget to put your name on your paper.
 Stella was beginning to feel a little offended.
 the plaintive cry of the seagull
· I apologise for the poor sound quality of this recording.
· Jen looked relieved to see me.
(=unharmed, especially after being in danger) The missing children were found safe and sound.
· "Of course not!" he exclaimed, sounding shocked.
(=a sleep from which you cannot easily be woken)· The noise woke him from a deep sleep.
(=travel faster than the speed of sound)
 Is the building structurally sound (=in good condition)?
(=give a public warning)· The chairman sounded a warning that jobs could be lost.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
· And in minutes the old man was sound asleep.· And when he got back to his own hotel, Sabina had been sound asleep.· Then I fell sound asleep again.· He and your dad fell sound asleep in the same bed while I read aloud to them.· The minute she got into bed, she was sound asleep.· Most others are still sound asleep.
Phrases
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY
  • And when he got back to his own hotel, Sabina had been sound asleep.
  • He and your dad fell sound asleep in the same bed while I read aloud to them.
  • I would have wakened you earlier but you were sound asleep.
  • It's fantastic, John, there she is, a new person, lying on her face, sound asleep.
  • The child was sound asleep now, his tiny eyelashes resting on rounded cheeks.
  • The minute she got into bed, she was sound asleep.
  • Then I fell sound asleep again.
  • When Captain and Mrs Burrows came home exhausted after their demanding day all the children would be sound asleep.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
  • Fred Goodyear was so shocked that it was more than eight hours before he raised the alarm.
  • He sounded the alarm and the train stopped at St-Pierre-des-Corps, near Tours.
  • He was one of the earliest to sound the alarm about the fate of churches and their contents.
  • Stewart dispatched a column sounding the alarm.
  • The Big Three began sounding the alarm in a big way when January sales figures were reported.
  • They have lost no time in sounding the alarm about an impending famine, which they say threatens 1.9m people.
  • Volcanologist Pierce Brosnan and small-town mayor Linda Hamilton sound the alarm.
  • When the First Lady looked in on him and discovered he was missing, she panicked and sounded the alarm.
ambient music/soundsthe ghost of a smile/sound etc
  • Her heart took up a sickening thud.
  • One pitched out, hitting the ground with a sickening thud.
  • Then she landed on the Market Square flagstones with a sickening crash to lie motionless.
  • Then, with a sickening thud in her solar plexus, she understood.
  • They heard screams, kicks, the sickening thud of a punch, and the ogre roaring Solper's name.
the sound barrierI don’t want to sound/be ..., but ...(hear the sound of) wedding bells
sound asleep deeply asleep:  The baby was sound asleep.
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