sound1
/saʊnd
/noun [mass noun]
1Vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person’s or animal’s ear: light travels faster than sound...
- Since light travels faster than sound, the thunder is heard after the lightning.
- Bullets travel faster than sound, so I'll never hear the one that gets me, I reassured myself.
- Its Japanese designers believe their plane can travel at twice the speed of sound while reducing supersonic boom to a low rumble.
1.1 [count noun] A thing that can be heard: she heard the sound of voices in the hall don’t make a sound...
- I let out a hideous animal sound as I sank to my knees to finish off this beast.
- The sound reached a crescendo, then trailed off to the south in a quickly fading Doppler echo.
- This sound reached to the edge of the forest and was like a great clamor of metals striking together.
Synonyms
noise, note, din, racket, row, bang, report, hubbub, resonance, reverberation
1.2The area or distance within which something can be heard: we were always within sound of the train whistles...
- The glamour of each of these plays has to do with what in them is aristocratic, removed, a high pastime played out within sound of the sea.
- I did though, manage to find ices made with local fruit, ate fish and chips within sound of the sea and got to swallow down an oyster or two.
- Indeed, you can find some marvellous fishing within sight and sound of Copenhagen airport itself.
Synonyms
hearing distance, hearing, distance, earshot, range
2 (also musical sound) Sound produced by continuous and regular vibrations, as opposed to noise.The sound produced by drums is short; thus, any continuous sound can be produced only by rapid repetition....
- The speaker converts musical sound into vibrations that can be felt.
- The sound is more resonant than I would like it to be, but this is not really a big problem.
3Music, speech, and sound effects when recorded and used to accompany a film, video, or broadcast: [as modifier]: a sound studio...
- The film was shot without sound, and recorded interviews were added to accompany images of the women at work.
- She did all the scriptwriting, filming, sound, lighting, direction herself.
- Much like the video presentations, these sound mixes are all in good working order.
3.1Broadcasting by radio as distinct from television.The accent at the BBC at the time was very much toward sound rather than television....
- Vision was transmitted on 261.3 metres and sound on 398.9 metres, medium wave.
- The fidelity of sound equipment subsequently improved considerably, but the receivers did not.
3.2The distinctive quality of the music of a particular composer or performer or of the sound produced by a particular instrument: the sound of the Beatles...
- The distinctive Jamaican sound of reggae provides a template for various diasporic musics in the Caribbean.
- Their music has a very distinctive and fresh sound, hardcore but very melodic and experimental.
- Their music, while possessing an undeniably indie guitar sound, is just as quirky as the band seems to be.
Synonyms
music, tones, note, chord
3.3 (sounds) informal Popular music: sounds of the Sixties...
- My biggest beef with electric guitar sounds of the rock persuasion is the lack of dynamics.
- Patrons will also be able to enjoy the soothing sounds of jazz, reggae and traditional African music.
- When it comes to the traditional sounds of country music, Johnny Loughrey continues to set the pace.
4 [in singular] An idea or impression conveyed by words: you’ve had a hard day, by the sound of it...
- Mr Ali has lost a son who, by the sound of it, was going to contribute to the fabric of society, a peace-loving young man who loved his family.
- The recording process for Miles is an easy-going, relaxed one by the sound of it.
- Some of the children were naturally very frightened and the teacher by the sound of it did an amazing job.
Synonyms
idea, thought, concept, impression, prospect, description
verb
1Emit or cause to emit sound: [no object]: a loud buzzer sounded [with object]: she sounded the horn...
- In my mind I am praying, praying for the next buzzer to sound so I can escape the woman's bitter stare.
- The dhol is a north Indian drum made from goatskin, and anybody who has stood next to one will testify to how loud it sounds when played.
- Just as Jon reached for the handle, the buzzer behind them sounded.
Synonyms
go (off), resonate, resound, reverberate, blow, blare;
ring, chime, peal, toll, ding, clang
operate, set off;
play, blow, blast, toot, blare;
ring, chime, peal, toll, ding, clang
literary wind
1.1 [with object] Give an audible signal to indicate (something): a different bell begins to sound midnight...
- If the area is so dangerous that it needs such drastic measures to slow down traffic then it seems wholly appropriate that drivers help the locals by sounding a warning sign of their presence.
- Should that not have sounded the warning bells?
- One email sounded a warning note.
1.2 [with object] Express or convey (a warning): pharmaceutical companies are sounding the alarm about counterfeit drugs...
- However, Mr Barry sounded a warning note about risks to water everywhere as the silage-cutting season moves into top gear.
- England and Wales are at the heart of this drive so let's sound a word of warning for them.
- City Councilman Frank Rizzo sounds a more nostalgic note on the way to suggesting his own candidacy.
1.3 [with object] Pronounce: sound the rhymes clearly...
- Sound the phrase Di di di di di, pulling the ee out freely.
- The student should sound out the long /e/ sound.
- Thus we are trying to get him to sound out refrigerator letters, the same way one would train children on phonics.
Synonyms
pronounce, verbalize, voice, enunciate, articulate, vocalize, say
rare enounce
1.4 [with object] Test (the lungs or another body cavity) by noting the sound they produce: the doctor sounded her chest...
- Yes, the vet sounded her chest, which was clear, and she is eating normally.
- She saw several doctors who sounded her chest and asked if any of her relatives had died of consumption.
2 [no object] Convey a specified impression when heard: [with complement]: he sounded worried...
- I have to say, it made me feel better to hear how worried he sounded.
- I like that he always sounds happy to hear from me, even for a short call about nothing.
- But after a while it sounded familiar; I heard things in the score I'd heard elsewhere.
2.1(Of something or someone that has been described to one) convey a specified impression: it sounds as though you really do believe that [with complement]: the house sounds lovely...
- The woman on the airport intercom sounds lovely and understanding.
- The poets all read in their native language, so we didn't understand anything they were saying, though it still sounded lovely.
- You can track your book's progress around the world, and it all sounds very lovely and whimsical.
Synonyms
appear to be, appear, look, look to be, look like, seem, seem to be, have the appearance/air of being, give/create the impression of being, strike someone as being, give every indication of being
appear, look, seem;
give/create the impression that, strike someone that, give every indication that
informal look like
Phrasal verbs
sound off
Derivatives
soundless
/ adjective ...- These smooth, almost soundless vehicles provide access in the inner city as well as the upmarket inner suburbs to the west of city centre.
- Its environs consisted of silent plains and soundless forests.
- Each note, barely rising up at the lower limits of hearing, is a tickle on the surface of the soundless calm that overlays the track.
soundlessly
/ adverb ...- He was alive and his mouth was working soundlessly.
- We stress different muscles now, on the edge of control, but gliding easily, soundlessly forward.
- Their battles take place soundlessly in the sky above, while ordinary New Yorkers watch and wait and worry.
soundlessness
- The theme of the night is to ‘be mysterious to the point of soundlessness.’
- Even the silverware and glasses were picked for their soundlessness.
- Trees shifted with hypnotic sway, ushered by winds unfelt by the dead, generating the haunting soundlessness of a forest in motion.
Origin
Middle English soun, from Anglo-Norman French soun (noun), suner (verb), from Latin sonus. The form with -d was established in the 16th century.
There are four different ‘sounds’ in English. The one relating to noise is from Latin sonus. Related words are dissonance (Late Middle English) ‘inharmonious’; resonance (Late Middle English) ‘echo, resound’; resonant (late 16th century); resound (Late Middle English); and sonorous (early 17th century). Sonar, however, is an acronym formed from Sound Navigation and Ranging on the pattern of radar. Sound, meaning ‘in good condition, not damaged or diseased’, is from Old English gesund. In Middle English the prominent sense was ‘uninjured, unwounded’. Use of sound to mean ‘having well-grounded opinions’ dates from the early 16th century; the phrase as sound as a bell appeared in the late 16th century. This puns on the first meaning of sound, and also on the fact that a cracked bell will not ring true. The third sound (Late Middle English) ‘ascertain the depth of water’ is from Old French sonder, based on Latin sub- ‘below’ and unda ‘wave’. The final one for a narrow stretch of water is Middle English from Old Norse sund ‘swimming, strait’, related to swim.
Rhymes
sound2
/saʊnd/adjective
1In good condition; not damaged, injured, or diseased: they returned safe and sound he was not of sound mind...
- The true, strong and sound mind is the mind that can embrace equally great things and small.
- Mr Welch said that the pumps appeared to be in sound condition.
- Packaging is needed to ensure that a product is delivered to customers in a sound condition.
Synonyms
healthy, in good condition, toned, fit, physically fit, hale and hearty, in good shape, in fine fettle, in trim, disease-free, undamaged, uninjured, unimpaired
well built, solid, well constructed, substantial, strong, sturdy, stout, durable, stable, intact, whole, undamaged, unimpaired
1.1Financially secure: she could get her business on a sound footing for the first time...
- Thus structured fiscal reforms are needed to put public finance back on a sound footing.
- It is hoped that the sponsored event will put the award scheme on a sound financial footing and help in a bid to secure official charitable status.
- While the men agree that a carbon tax would be one financially sound way to fight global warming, they disagree about how high the tax should be.
Synonyms
solvent, able to pay its debts, debt-free, not in debt, out of debt, in the black, in funds, in credit, creditworthy, of good financial standing, solid, secure
rare unindebted
1.2British informal Excellent: He ate his lasagne with relish. ‘It’s sound, this.’...
- He's a sound bloke, solid, reliable and in short a diamond geezer.
- It's really sound, too good to be true!
2Based on valid reason or good judgement: sound advice for healthy living the scientific content is sound...
- Her advice was freely given and was always based on common sense and sound reasoning.
- He had taken the car for the very sound, very logical reason that he wanted it.
- Our simple submission is the majority in the Court of Appeal got it right for cogent and sound reasons.
Synonyms
well founded, well grounded, valid, reasonable, logical, solid, weighty, authoritative, convincing, cogent, plausible, credible, reliable
2.1Competent, reliable, or holding acceptable views: he’s very sound on his law...
- The men in suits praise him for his sound knowledge of the game and his eye for talent; all the while overlooking his shortcomings.
- But what a hard lesson for the young Newbridge man who had played a very sound game up to this point.
- The works are sound and competent, physically big and large in their sense of the personal too.
Synonyms
reliable, dependable, trustworthy, fair;
good, sensible, intelligent, wise, judicious, sagacious, astute, shrewd, perceptive, percipient
3(Of sleep) deep and undisturbed: a doze that deepened into a sound sleep...
- Then I could so easily close my eyes to all that is happening around me and my family, roll over and fall into a deep sound sleep.
- Anyway, I woke out of a sound sleep on Sunday morning with an extremely vivid dream.
- The effects are there for all to see: improved skin texture, vitality and sound sleep at night.
Synonyms
deep, undisturbed, unbroken, uninterrupted, untroubled, peaceful
3.1(Of a person) tending to sleep deeply: I am a sound sleeper...
- I knew it was loud and sounded awful, but at least my family members were sound sleepers.
- She forgot that he was such a sound sleeper and there was no way that a knock would wake him up.
- So if we take a look at the brain of an insomniac do we find anything different from the brain of a sound sleeper?
4(Of a beating) severe: such people should be given a sound thrashing...
- A man finds out his son is using heroin and decides to go punish the dealer with a sound beating.
- Scotland, for instance, gave them a sound beating in the autumn when they came up here.
- The Pistons clearly are a shaken team unaccustomed to taking two sound beatings in a series.
Synonyms
thorough, proper, real, regular, complete, total, veritable, without reserve, unqualified, out-and-out, thoroughgoing, downright, absolute, drastic, severe
informal damn, right, royal, right royal
Australian/New Zealand informal fair
adverb
Soundly: he was sound asleep...
- This evening I settled down happy as can be, turned on the TV, and within moments was sound asleep.
- The very first night I was sound asleep and I woke to the sound of my dad laughing.
- Every person in the village was sound asleep.
Origin
Middle English: from Old English gesund, of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch gezond and German gesund.
sound3
/saʊnd/verb [with object]
1Ascertain (the depth of water in the sea, a lake, or a river), typically by means of a line or pole or using sound echoes: Mr Pattison was sounding the depth of the water with a pole...
- Then he bangs four more times, as if sounding the echoey depths of a hidden chamber.
- The first ship to sound at a greater depth than 5,000 fathoms was the British surveying vessel Penguin in 1895.
- Attempts to sound depth acoustically instead focused on determining the exact distance of a sound source by measuring the time taken for a sound generated aboard a ship to travel to the sea bottom and back.
Synonyms
measure, gauge, determine, test, investigate, survey, take a reading of, plumb, fathom, probe
1.1Find the depth of water in (a ship’s hold).
2Question (someone) discreetly or cautiously so as to ascertain their opinions on a subject: we’ll sound out parliament first...
- He'd been talking to Jen and said she'd been sounding him out about my feelings for her.
- The director had sounded me out about the project about a year before the film had got its backing.
- He was sounded out about taking on the captaincy of Yorkshire as well as Middlesex and the MCC but by then he had settled in Australia.
Synonyms
canvass, test the opinions of, survey, poll, question, interview, sample;
test the water, see how the land lies
informal pump
2.1Inquire into (someone’s opinions) discreetly or cautiously: officials arrived to sound out public opinion at meetings in factories...
- We held a public debate about it - to sound out the opinions and mood of the audience.
- Some of the likely candidates did a phone-around of colleagues yesterday to sound out likely support.
- Sounding out the export market pays off for South Wales anti-noise specialist.
Synonyms
investigate, test, check, examine, probe, carry out an investigation of, conduct a survey of, research, research into, carry out research into, explore, look into, canvass, elicit
3 Medicine Examine (a person’s bladder or other internal cavity) with a long surgical probe.The blue flange should be aligned with the IUD arms and set at the distance the uterus was sounded....
- Before sounding the uterus, the provider should already have screened the woman to rule out the possibility of vaginal or cervical infection.
- After successfully sounding the uterus, open the sterile package to reveal the shaft of the inserter.
4 [no object] (Especially of a whale) dive down steeply to a great depth: he sounded, arching his back steeply and raising his rubbery flukes in the air...
- They came within about 20 feet of the rail, then, sounding, dove.
- Soon thereafter there will be the familiar flip of the tail as the whales "sound" or dive deep to the ocean's depths.
- You may see a series of spouts just before the whale sounds.
noun
A long surgical probe, typically with a curved, blunt end.A uterine sound is described having a probe with measuring indicia inscribed thereon....
- The lithotomy sound is a specialized metal probe to prove the presence of bladder stones.
Derivatives
sounder
/ noun ...- We have sophisticated fish finding equipment - sounders and GPS systems.
- Fish can be spotted on modern sounders with ease but be careful, many so-called ‘fish ID ‘facilities can be misleading, picking up weed, boulders and other obstructions and flagging them up as fish.’
- With digital GPS and colour video sounders, you can challenge the skipper to see how close he can get to a particular point on the wreck.
Origin
Late Middle English: from Old French sonder, based on Latin sub- 'below' + unda 'wave'.
sound4
/saʊnd/noun
1A narrow stretch of water forming an inlet or connecting two wider areas of water such as two seas or a sea and a lake.Captains of foreign ships, and even those under U.S. registry, don't know the topography of the sound like an experienced local....
- As I remember, there was a time that we started on Friday doing endless laps around the Sound.
- They are common on the coast and in north Puget Sound, and are less common in the southern end of the sound.
Synonyms
channel, (sea) passage, strait(s), neck, narrows, waterway, stretch of water;
inlet, branch, arm (of the sea), fjord, creek, bay, voe;
estuary, firth
1.1 (the Sound) another name for Øresund.
Origin
Middle English: from Old Norse sund 'swimming, strait'; related to swim.
- well-inclined
- well I never! (or well I never did!)
- well informed
- wellington
- Wellington, 1st Duke of
- Wellington apple
- wellington boot
- wellingtonia
- Wellingtonian
- well-inhabited
- wellink
- well-instituted
- well-instructed
- well-integrated
- well-intended
- well intentioned
- well-invented
- wellish
- wellish-off
- well-joined
- well-jointed
- well judged
- well-judging
- well-justified
- well-kempt