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sough
1[ sou, suhf ]
/ saʊ, sʌf /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
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.
QUIZ
ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?
We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.
Question 1 of 8
Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?
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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.
OTHER WORDS FROM sough
sough·ful·ly, adverbsoughless, adjectiveWords nearby sough
Other definitions for sough (2 of 2)
sough2
[ 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. 2021
How to use sough in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for sough (1 of 2)
sough1
/ (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)
sough2
/ (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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