sound
1the 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 1,087 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.
Phonetics.
the audible result of an utterance or portion of an utterance: the s-sound in “slight”;the sound of m in “mere.”
the auditory effect of sound waves as transmitted or recorded by a particular system of sound reproduction: the sound of a stereophonic recording.
the quality of an event, letter, etc., as it affects a person: This report has a bad sound.
the distance within which the noise of something may be heard.
mere noise, without meaning: all sound and fury.
Archaic. a report or rumor; news; tidings.
to make or emit a sound.
to give forth a sound as a call or summons: The bugle sounded as the troops advanced.
to be heard, as a sound.
to convey a certain impression when heard or read: to sound strange.
to give a specific sound: to sound loud.
to give the appearance of being; seem: The report sounds true.
Law. to have as its basis or foundation (usually followed by in): His action sounds in contract.
to cause to make or emit a sound: to sound a bell.
to give forth (a sound): The oboe sounded an A.
to announce, order, or direct by or as by a sound: The bugle sounded retreat.His speech sounded a warning to aggressor nations.
to utter audibly, pronounce, or express: to sound each letter.
to examine by percussion or auscultation: to sound a patient's chest.
sound off, Informal.
to call out one's name, as at military roll call.
to speak freely or frankly, especially to complain in such a manner.
to exaggerate; boast: Has he been sounding off about his golf game again?
Idioms about sound
(that) sounds good (to me), (used when accepting a suggestion) I agree; yes; OK: “Shall we meet at my place at 3 tomorrow, and talk about it in more detail then?” “Sounds good.”
Origin of sound
1synonym study For sound
Other words from sound
- sound·a·ble, adjective
- un·sound·a·ble, adjective
Words Nearby sound
Other definitions for sound (2 of 5)
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.
following in a systematic pattern without any apparent defect in logic: sound reasoning.
of substantial or enduring character: sound moral values.
uninterrupted and untroubled; deep; sound sleep.
vigorous, thorough, or severe: a sound thrashing.
having no legal defect: a sound title to property.
theologically correct or orthodox, as doctrines or a theologian.
deeply; thoroughly; sound asleep.
Origin of sound
2Other words for sound
Other words from sound
- sound·ly, adverb
- sound·ness, noun
Other definitions for sound (3 of 5)
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.
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.
Surgery. a long, slender instrument for sounding or exploring body cavities or canals.
Origin of sound
3Other words from sound
- sound·a·ble, adjective
Other definitions for sound (4 of 5)
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
4Other definitions for Sound (5 of 5)
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. 2023
How to use sound in a sentence
If that sounds like you, don’t feel like you need to suffer to see gains.
Use TikTok to build the perfect workout | Sandra Gutierrez G. | September 17, 2020 | Popular-ScienceIn many cases, this will come as no surprise—we use many apps precisely because they can take pictures or record a sound.
iPhone’s new ‘orange dot’ feature warns you when an app is listening | Jeff | September 17, 2020 | FortuneThe content should not be stuffed, like in the old days of SEO, it should rather be a natural-sounding copy written in an informative style.
8 major Google ranking factors — SEO guide | Sponsored Content: SEO PowerSuite | September 15, 2020 | Search Engine LandNow researchers think the sounds stop queens from fighting to the death.
Quacks and toots help young honeybee queens avoid deadly duels | Sharon Oosthoek | September 14, 2020 | Science News For StudentsFor one thing, it sounds like the App Store will now support game-streaming services like Microsoft’s xCloud and Google’s Stadia.
Again, the difference can seem subtle and sound more like splitting hairs, but the difference is important.
How Skinny Is Too Skinny? Israel Bans ‘Underweight’ Models | Carrie Arnold | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAnd it must make sure that the platform of debate where we can freely exchange ideas is safe and sound.
Ayaan Hirsi Ali: Our Duty Is to Keep Charlie Hebdo Alive | Ayaan Hirsi Ali | January 8, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST“Gronkowski” itself never manages to sound more erotic than the name of a hearty Polish stew or a D-list WWE performer.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits | Emily Shire | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTGirls in Peacetime Want to Dance is a different sound for you.
“You can imagine the sound of that gun on a Bronx street,” Chief of Detectives Robert Boyce says.
Sol laughed out of his whiskers, with a big, loose-rolling sound, and sat on the porch without waiting to be asked.
The Bondboy | George W. (George Washington) OgdenShe was flushed and felt intoxicated with the sound of her own voice and the unaccustomed taste of candor.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories | Kate ChopinBells were pealing and tolling in all directions, and the air was filled with the sound of distant shouts and cries.
Davy and The Goblin | Charles E. CarrylIt will be remembered that pitch depends upon the rapidity of the sound waves or vibrations.
Expressive Voice Culture | Jessie Eldridge SouthwickMiss Christabel blushed furiously and emitted a sound half between a laugh and a scream.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. Locke
British Dictionary definitions for sound (1 of 5)
/ (saʊnd) /
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 television: sound 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 sound: the sound of running water
volume or quality of sound: a radio with poor sound
the area or distance over which something can be heard: to be born within the sound of Big Ben
the impression or implication of something: I don't like the sound of that
phonetics the auditory effect produced by a specific articulation or set of related articulations
(often plural) slang music, esp rock, jazz, or pop
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 sound: to sound the alarm
(intr) (of a sound) to be heard
(intr) to resonate with a certain quality or intensity: to sound loud
(copula) to give the impression of being as specified when read, heard, etc: to sound reasonable
(tr) to pronounce distinctly or audibly: to sound one's consonants
(intr usually foll by in) law to have the essential quality or nature (of): an action sounding in damages
Origin of sound
1- See also sound off
Derived forms of sound
- soundable, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for sound (2 of 5)
/ (saʊnd) /
free from damage, injury, decay, etc
firm; solid; substantial: a sound basis
financially safe or stable: a sound investment
showing good judgment or reasoning; sensible; wise: sound advice
valid, logical, or justifiable: a sound argument
holding approved beliefs; ethically correct; upright; honest
(of sleep) deep; peaceful; unbroken
thorough; complete: a sound examination
British informal excellent
law (of a title, etc) free from defect; legally valid
constituting a valid and justifiable application of correct principles; orthodox: sound 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
another word for consistent (def. 5b)
soundly; deeply: now archaic except when applied to sleep
Origin of sound
2Derived forms of sound
- soundly, adverb
- soundness, noun
British Dictionary definitions for sound (3 of 5)
/ (saʊnd) /
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
med an instrument for insertion into a bodily cavity or passage to dilate strictures, dislodge foreign material, etc
Origin of sound
3- See also sound out
British Dictionary definitions for sound (4 of 5)
/ (saʊnd) /
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
Origin of sound
4British Dictionary definitions for Sound (5 of 5)
/ (saʊnd) /
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
Scientific definitions for sound (1 of 2)
[ 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 ]
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.
Other Idioms and Phrases with sound
In addition to the idioms beginning with sound
- sound as a bell
- sound bite
- sound off
- sound out
also see:
- safe and sound
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
Browse