QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON “THEIR,” “THERE,” AND “THEY’RE”
Are you aware how often people swap around “their,” “there,” and “they’re”? Prove you have more than a fair grasp over these commonly confused words.
Question 1 of 7
Which one of these commonly confused words can act as an adverb or a pronoun?
Origin of sound
1First recorded in 1250–1300; (noun) Middle English soun, from Anglo-French (Old French son ), from Latin sonus; (verb) Middle English sounen, from Old French suner, from 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, adjectiveun·sound·a·ble, adjectiveWords nearby sound
Definition for sound (2 of 5)
Origin of sound
2First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English sund, Old English gesund (see y-); cognate with Dutch gezond, German gesund
OTHER WORDS FROM sound
soundly, adverbsoundness, nounDefinition for sound (3 of 5)
sound3
[ 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
3First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English sounden, from Old French sonder “to plumb,” derivative of sonde “sounding line,” of unknown origin
OTHER WORDS FROM sound
sound·a·ble, adjectiveDefinition for sound (4 of 5)
sound4
[ 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
4First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English sund “act of swimming”; akin to swim
Definition for sound (5 of 5)
Sound
[ sound ]
/ saʊnd /
noun
The Sound, a strait between southwestern 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-soon] /Danish ˈœ rəˌsʊn/ . Swedish Ö·re·sund [Swedish œ-ruh-soond] /Swedish ˈœ rəˌsʊnd/ .
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for sound
British Dictionary definitions for sound (1 of 5)
sound1
/ (saʊnd) /
noun
verb
See also sound off
Derived forms of sound
soundable, adjectiveWord 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)
sound2
/ (saʊnd) /
adjective
adverb
soundly; deeply: now archaic except when applied to sleep
Derived forms of sound
soundly, adverbsoundness, nounWord Origin for sound
Old English sund; related to Old Saxon gisund, Old High German gisunt
British Dictionary definitions for sound (3 of 5)
sound3
/ (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
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)
sound4
/ (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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Medical definitions for sound (1 of 3)
sound 11
[ sound ]
n.
Vibrations transmitted through an elastic material or a solid, liquid, or gas, with frequencies in the range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing.
Transmitted vibrations of any frequency.
A distinctive noise.
v.
To auscultate.
Medical definitions for sound (2 of 3)
sound 22
[ sound ]
adj.
Free from defect, decay, or damage; in good condition.
Free from disease or injury.
Medical definitions for sound (3 of 3)
sound 33
[ sound ]
n.
An instrument used to examine or explore body cavities, as for foreign bodies or other abnormalities, or to dilate strictures in them.
v.
To probe a body cavity with a sound.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Scientific definitions for sound (1 of 2)
sound1
[ 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)
sound2
[ 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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Idioms and Phrases with sound
sound
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.