sough
1[ sou, suhf ]
/ saʊ, sʌf /
verb (used without object)
to make a rushing, rustling, or murmuring sound: the wind soughing in the meadow.
Scot. and North England. to speak, especially to preach, in a whining, singsong voice.
noun
a sighing, rustling, or murmuring sound.
Scot. and North England.
- a sigh or deep breath.
- a whining, singsong manner of speaking.
- a rumor; unconfirmed report.
Nearby words
soudan, souffle, soufflot, soufflé, soufrière, sough, sought, sought after, sought-after, souk, soukous
Origin of sough
1before 900; (v.) Middle English swoghen, Old English swōgan to make a noise; cognate with Old Saxon swōgan, Old English swēgan, Gothic -swōgjan; (noun) Middle English swow, swo(u)gh, derivative of the v.
Related forms
sough·ful·ly, adverbsough·less, adjectiveDefinition for sough (2 of 2)
sough
2[ suhf, sou ]
/ sʌf, saʊ /
noun
drain; drainage ditch, gutter, or sewer.
a swampy or marshy area.
verb (used with object)
to drain (land or a mine) by building drainage ditches or the like.
Also especially Scot., sugh.
Origin of sough
21250–1300; Middle English sogh, sohn < ?; compare Dutch (dial.) zoeg little ditch
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for sough
British Dictionary definitions for sough (1 of 2)
sough
1/ (saʊ) /
verb
(intr) (esp of the wind) to make a characteristic sighing sound
noun
a soft continuous murmuring sound
Word Origin for sough
Old English swōgan to resound; related to Gothic gaswogjan to groan, Lithuanian svageti to sound, Latin vāgīre to lament
British Dictionary definitions for sough (2 of 2)
sough
2/ (sʌf) /
noun
Northern English dialect a sewer or drain or an outlet channel
Word Origin for sough
of obscure origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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