sound

[ sound ]

/ saʊnd /

noun

the sensation produced by stimulation of the organs of hearing by vibrations transmitted through the air or other medium.

mechanical vibrations transmitted through an elastic medium, traveling in air at a speed of approximately 1087 feet (331 meters) per second at sea level.

the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause: the sound of music.

any auditory effect; any audible vibrational disturbance: all kinds of sounds.

a noise, vocal utterance, musical tone, or the like: the sounds from the next room.

a distinctive, characteristic, or recognizable musical style, as from a particular performer, orchestra, or type of arrangement: the big-band sound.

Phonetics.

speech sound.
the audible result of an utterance or portion of an utterance: the s-sound in “slight”; the sound of m in “mere.”

the auditory effect of sound waves as transmitted or recorded by a particular system of sound reproduction: the sound of a stereophonic recording.

the quality of an event, letter, etc., as it affects a person: This report has a bad sound.

the distance within which the noise of something may be heard.

mere noise, without meaning: all sound and fury.

Archaic. a report or rumor; news; tidings.

verb (used without object)

to make or emit a sound.

to give forth a sound as a call or summons: The bugle sounded as the troops advanced.

to be heard, as a sound.

to convey a certain impression when heard or read: to sound strange.

to give a specific sound: to sound loud.

to give the appearance of being; seem: The report sounds true.

Law. to have as its basis or foundation (usually followed by in): His action sounds in contract.

verb (used with object)

to cause to make or emit a sound: to sound a bell.

to give forth (a sound): The oboe sounded an A.

to announce, order, or direct by or as by a sound: The bugle sounded retreat. His speech sounded a warning to aggressor nations.

to utter audibly, pronounce, or express: to sound each letter.

to examine by percussion or auscultation: to sound a patient's chest.

Verb Phrases

sound off, Informal.

to call out one's name, as at military roll call.
to speak freely or frankly, especially to complain in such a manner.
to exaggerate; boast: Has he been sounding off about his golf game again?

Origin of sound

1250–1300; (noun) Middle English soun < Anglo-French (Old French son) < Latin sonus; (v.) Middle English sounen < Old French suner < Latin sonāre, derivative of sonus

synonym study for sound

1. Sound, noise, tone refer to something heard. Sound and noise are often used interchangeably for anything perceived by means of hearing. Sound, however, is more general in application, being used for anything within earshot: the sound of running water. Noise, caused by irregular vibrations, is more properly applied to a loud, discordant, or unpleasant sound: the noise of shouting. Tone is applied to a musical sound having a certain quality, resonance, and pitch.

OTHER WORDS FROM sound

sound·a·ble, adjective un·sound·a·ble, adjective

Words nearby sound

soul-kiss, soul-searching, soulful, soulless, soult, sound, sound and the fury, the, sound as a bell, sound barrier, sound bite, sound block

British Dictionary definitions for sound off (1 of 6)

sound off

verb (intr, adverb)

to proclaim loudly, as in venting one's opinions, grievances, etc

to speak angrily

British Dictionary definitions for sound off (2 of 6)

sound ¹

/ (saʊnd) /

noun

a periodic disturbance in the pressure or density of a fluid or in the elastic strain of a solid, produced by a vibrating object. It has a velocity in air at sea level at 0°C of 331 metres per second (741 miles per hour) and travels as longitudinal waves
(as modifier)a sound wave

(modifier) of or relating to radio as distinguished from television sound broadcasting; sound radio

the sensation produced by such a periodic disturbance in the organs of hearing

anything that can be heard

a particular instance, quality, or type of sound the sound of running water

volume or quality of sound a radio with poor sound

the area or distance over which something can be heard to be born within the sound of Big Ben

the impression or implication of something I don't like the sound of that

phonetics the auditory effect produced by a specific articulation or set of related articulations

(often plural) slang music, esp rock, jazz, or pop

verb

to cause (something, such as an instrument) to make a sound or (of an instrument, etc) to emit a sound

to announce or be announced by a sound to sound the alarm

(intr) (of a sound) to be heard

(intr) to resonate with a certain quality or intensity to sound loud

(copula) to give the impression of being as specified when read, heard, etc to sound reasonable

(tr) to pronounce distinctly or audibly to sound one's consonants

(intr usually foll by in) law to have the essential quality or nature (of) an action sounding in damages

Derived forms of sound

soundable, adjective

Word Origin for sound

C13: from Old French soner to make a sound, from Latin sonāre, from sonus a sound

British Dictionary definitions for sound off (3 of 6)

sound ²

/ (saʊnd) /

adjective

free from damage, injury, decay, etc

firm; solid; substantial a sound basis

financially safe or stable a sound investment

showing good judgment or reasoning; sensible; wise sound advice

valid, logical, or justifiable a sound argument

holding approved beliefs; ethically correct; upright; honest

(of sleep) deep; peaceful; unbroken

thorough; complete a sound examination

British informal excellent

law (of a title, etc) free from defect; legally valid

constituting a valid and justifiable application of correct principles; orthodox sound theology

logic

(of a deductive argument) valid
(of an inductive argument) according with whatever principles ensure the high probability of the truth of the conclusion given the truth of the premises
another word for consistent (def. 5b)

adverb

soundly; deeply: now archaic except when applied to sleep

Derived forms of sound

soundly, adverb soundness, noun

Word Origin for sound

Old English sund; related to Old Saxon gisund, Old High German gisunt

British Dictionary definitions for sound off (4 of 6)

sound ³

/ (saʊnd) /

verb

to measure the depth of (a well, the sea, etc) by lowering a plumb line, by sonar, etc

to seek to discover (someone's views, etc), as by questioning

(intr) (of a whale, etc) to dive downwards swiftly and deeply

med

to probe or explore (a bodily cavity or passage) by means of a sound
to examine (a patient) by means of percussion and auscultation

noun

med an instrument for insertion into a bodily cavity or passage to dilate strictures, dislodge foreign material, etc

Word Origin for sound

C14: from Old French sonder, from sonde sounding line, probably of Germanic origin; related to Old English sundgyrd sounding pole, Old Norse sund strait, sound 4; see swim

British Dictionary definitions for sound off (5 of 6)

sound ⁴

/ (saʊnd) /

noun

a relatively narrow channel between two larger areas of sea or between an island and the mainland

an inlet or deep bay of the sea

the air bladder of a fish

Word Origin for sound

Old English sund swimming, narrow sea; related to Middle Low German sunt strait; see sound ³

British Dictionary definitions for sound off (6 of 6)

Sound

/ (saʊnd) /

noun

the Sound a strait between SW Sweden and Zealand (Denmark), linking the Kattegat with the Baltic: busy shipping lane; spanned by a bridge in 2000. Length of the strait: 113 km (70 miles). Narrowest point: 5 km (3 miles) Danish name: Øresund Swedish name: Öresund

Scientific definitions for sound off (1 of 2)

sound ¹

[ sound ]

A type of longitudinal wave that originates as the vibration of a medium (such as a person's vocal cords or a guitar string) and travels through gases, liquids, and elastic solids as variations of pressure and density. The loudness of a sound perceived by the ear depends on the amplitude of the sound wave and is measured in decibels, while its pitch depends on its frequency, measured in hertz.

The sensation produced in the organs of hearing by waves of this type. See Note at ultrasound.

Scientific definitions for sound off (2 of 2)

sound ²

[ sound ]

A long, wide inlet of the ocean, often parallel to the coast. Long Island Sound, between Long Island and the coast of New England, is an example.

A long body of water, wider than a strait, that connects larger bodies of water.

Idioms and Phrases with sound off (1 of 2)

sound off

Express one's views vigorously and loudly, as in Dad's always sounding off about higher taxes. This expression probably comes from the original meaning, that is, “strike up a military band.” [Early 1900s]

Idioms and Phrases with sound off (2 of 2)

sound

In addition to the idioms beginning with sound

sound as a bell
sound bite
sound off
sound out

also see:

safe and sound

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

sound