Origin of sound

1
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

Definition for sound (2 of 5)

sound 2
[ sound ]
/ saʊnd /

adjective, sound·er, sound·est.

adverb

deeply; thoroughly: sound asleep.

Origin of sound

2
1150–1200; Middle English sund, Old English gesund (see y-); cognate with Dutch gezond, German gesund

OTHER WORDS FROM sound

sound·ly, adverb sound·ness, noun

Definition for sound (3 of 5)

sound 3
[ sound ]
/ saʊnd /

verb (used with object)

verb (used without object)

noun

Surgery. a long, slender instrument for sounding or exploring body cavities or canals.

Origin of sound

3
1300–50; Middle English sounden < Old French sonder to plumb, derivative of sonde sounding line < ?

OTHER WORDS FROM sound

sound·a·ble, adjective

Definition for sound (4 of 5)

sound 4
[ sound ]
/ saʊnd /

noun

a relatively narrow passage of water between larger bodies of water or between the mainland and an island: Long Island Sound.
an inlet, arm, or recessed portion of the sea: Puget Sound.
the air bladder of a fish.

Origin of sound

4
before 900; Middle English; Old English sund act of swimming; akin to swim

Definition for sound (5 of 5)

Sound
[ sound ]
/ saʊnd /

noun

The, a strait between SW Sweden and Zealand, connecting the Kattegat and the Baltic. 87 miles (140 km) long; 3–30 miles (5–48 km) wide.
Danish Ø·re·sund [Danish œ-ruh-soo n] /Danish ˈœ rəˌsʊn/. Swedish Ö·re·sund [Swedish œ-ruh-soo nd] /Swedish ˈœ rəˌsʊnd/.

Example sentences from the Web for sound

British Dictionary definitions for sound (1 of 5)

sound 1
/ (saʊnd) /

noun

verb

See also sound off

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 (2 of 5)

sound 2
/ (saʊnd) /

adjective

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 (3 of 5)

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
  1. to probe or explore (a bodily cavity or passage) by means of a sound
  2. 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
See also sound out

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 (4 of 5)

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 (5 of 5)

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 (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 (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

sound