soundsound3 ●●○ W3 adjective 
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?
WORD ORIGINsound3
Origin:
Old English gesundEXAMPLES 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.
- 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.
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 FROM THE ENTRYnouns We’ll eat at eight. Does that sound all right to you? Dan came in looking very apologetic. 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. The voice on the phone sounded familiar. In theory, the scheme sounds fine. They managed to get the business onto a more secure footing. I worked out this morning and I feel great. You look great in that dress. The garden looked like a jungle. At last he felt like a real soldier. The falling snow muffled the sound of our footsteps. Stella was beginning to feel a little offended. the plaintive cry of the seagull Is the building structurally sound (=in good condition)?
· 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.
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 FROM OTHER ENTRIES► ambient music/sounds► the ghost of a smile/sound etc► the sound barrier► I 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: - 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.
- 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 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?