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.
Related formssound·a·ble, adjectiveun·sound·a·ble, adjective
Synonym study
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.
sound
2
[sound]
adjective,sound·er,sound·est.
free from injury, damage, defect, disease, etc.; in good condition; healthy; robust: a sound heart; a sound mind.
financially strong, secure, or reliable: a sound business; sound investments.
competent, sensible, or valid: sound judgment.
having no defect as to truth, justice, wisdom, or reason: sound advice.
of substantial or enduring character: sound moral values.
following in a systematic pattern without any apparent defect in logic: sound reasoning.
uninterrupted and untroubled; deep: sound sleep.
vigorous, thorough, or severe: a sound thrashing.
free from moral defect or weakness; upright, honest, or good; honorable; loyal.
having no legal defect: a sound title to property.
theologically correct or orthodox, as doctrines or a theologian.
adverb
deeply; thoroughly: sound asleep.
Origin of sound
2
1150–1200;Middle Englishsund,Old Englishgesund (see y-); cognate with Dutchgezond,Germangesund
to measure or try the depth of (water, a deep hole, etc.) by letting down a lead or plummet at the end of a line, or by some equivalent means.
to measure (depth) in such a manner, as at sea.
to examine or test (the bottom, as of the sea or a deep hole) with a lead that brings up adhering bits of matter.
to examine or investigate; seek to fathom or ascertain: to sound a person's views.
to seek to elicit the views or sentiments of (a person) by indirect inquiries, suggestive allusions, etc. (often followed by out): Why not sound him out about working for us?
Surgery. to examine, as the urinary bladder, with a sound.
verb (used without object)
to use the lead and line or some other device for measuring depth, as at sea.
to go down or touch bottom, as a lead.
to plunge downward or dive, as a whale.
to make investigation; seek information, especially by indirect inquiries.
noun
Surgery. a long, slender instrument for sounding or exploring body cavities or canals.
Origin of sound
3
1300–50;Middle Englishsounden < Old Frenchsonder to plumb, derivative of sonde sounding line < ?
Related formssound·a·ble, adjective
sound
4
[sound]
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 Englishsund act of swimming; akin to swim
Sound
[sound]
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.
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 televisionsound 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 soundthe sound of running water
volume or quality of sounda radio with poor sound
the area or distance over which something can be heardto be born within the sound of Big Ben
the impression or implication of somethingI don't like the sound of that
phoneticsthe auditory effect produced by a specific articulation or set of related articulations
(often plural)slangmusic, 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 soundto sound the alarm
(intr)(of a sound) to be heard
(intr)to resonate with a certain quality or intensityto sound loud
(copula)to give the impression of being as specified when read, heard, etcto sound reasonable
(tr)to pronounce distinctly or audiblyto sound one's consonants
(intr usually foll by in) lawto have the essential quality or nature (of)an action sounding in damages
law(of a title, etc) free from defect; legally valid
constituting a valid and justifiable application of correct principles; orthodoxsound 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
C14: from Old French sonder, from sonde sounding line, probably of Germanic origin; related to Old English sundgyrd sounding pole, Old Norse sund strait, sound4; see swim
sound
4
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
Sound
noun
the Sounda 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
"noise, what is heard, sensation produced through the ear," late 13c., soun, from Old French son "sound, musical note, voice," from Latin sonus "sound, a noise," from PIE *swon-o-, from root *swen- "to sound" (cf. Sanskrit svanati "it sounds," svanah "sound, tone;" Latin sonare "to sound;" Old Irish senim "the playing of an instrument;" Old English geswin "music, song," swinsian "to sing;" Old Norse svanr, Old English swan "swan," properly "the sounding bird").
The terminal -d was established c.1350-1550 as part of a tendency to add -d- after -n-. First record of sound barrier is from 1939. Sound check is from 1977; sound effects is 1909, originally live accompaniments to silent films.
The experts of Victor ... will ... arrange for the synchronized orchestration and sound effects for this picture, in which airplane battles will have an important part. ["Exhibitor's Herald & Moving Picture World," April 28, 1928]
adj.
"free from special defect or injury," c.1200, from Old English gesund "sound, safe, having the organs and faculties complete and in perfect action," from Proto-Germanic *sunda-, from Germanic root *swen-to- "healthy, strong" (cf. Old Saxon gisund, Old Frisian sund, Dutch gezond, Old High German gisunt, German gesund "healthy," as in the post-sneezing interjection gesundheit; also Old English swið "strong," Gothic swinþs "strong," German geschwind "fast, quick"), with connections in Indo-Iranian and Balto-Slavic. Meaning "right, correct, free from error" is from mid-15c. Meaning "financially solid or safe" is attested from c.1600; of sleep, "undisturbed," from 1540s. Sense of "holding accepted opinions" is from 1520s.
v.2
"fathom, probe, measure the depth of," mid-14c. (implied in sounding), from Old French sonder, from sonde "sounding line," perhaps from the same Germanic source that yielded Old English sund "water, sea" (see sound (n.2)). Barnhart dismisses the old theory that it is from Latin subundare. Figurative use from 1570s.
n.2
"narrow channel of water," c.1300, from Old Norse sund "a strait, swimming," or from cognate Old English sund "act of swimming, stretch of water one can swim across, a strait of the sea," both from Proto-Germanic *sundam-, from *swum-to-, suffixed form of Germanic root *swem- "to move, stir, swim" (see swim (v.)).
v.1
early 13c., sounen "to be audible, produce vibrations affecting the ear," from Old French soner (Modern French sonner) and directly from Latin sonare "to sound" (see sonata). From late 14c. as "cause something (an instrument, etc.) to produce sound." Related: Sounded; sounding.
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.
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.
