English Dictionary

Definition of “sound”

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1sound1 (saʊndPronunciation for sound1) 

Definitions

noun

    1. 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
    2. ((as modifier)  ⇒ a sound wave 
  2. (modifier) of or relating to radio as distinguished from television  ⇒ sound broadcasting sound radio 
  3. the sensation produced by such a periodic disturbance in the organs of hearing
  4. anything that can be heard
  5. a particular instance, quality, or type of sound  ⇒ the sound of running water 
  6. volume or quality of sound  ⇒ a radio with poor sound 
  7. the area or distance over which something can be heard  ⇒ to be born within the sound of Big Ben 
  8. the impression or implication of something  ⇒ I don't like the sound of that 
  9. phonetics the auditory effect produced by a specific articulation or set of related articulations
  10. (often plural) slang music, esp rock, jazz, or pop

verb

  1. to cause (something, such as an instrument) to make a sound or (of an instrument, etc) to emit a sound
  2. to announce or be announced by a sound  ⇒ to sound the alarm 
  3. (intr) (of a sound) to be heard
  4. (intr) to resonate with a certain quality or intensity  ⇒ to sound loud 
  5. (copula) to give the impression of being as specified when read, heard, etc  ⇒ to sound reasonable 
  6. (tr) to pronounce distinctly or audibly  ⇒ to sound one's consonants 
  7. (intr) in law to have the essential quality or nature (of)  ⇒ an action sounding in damages 

See also

sound off

Alternative Forms

ˈsoundable adjective

Word Origin

C13: from Old French soner  to make a sound, from Latin sonāre,  from sonus a sound

2sound2 (saʊndPronunciation for sound2) 

Definitions

adjective

  1. free from damage, injury, decay, etc
  2. firm; solid; substantial  ⇒ a sound basis 
  3. financially safe or stable  ⇒ a sound investment 
  4. showing good judgment or reasoning; sensible; wise  ⇒ sound advice 
  5. valid, logical, or justifiable  ⇒ a sound argument 
  6. holding approved beliefs; ethically correct; upright; honest
  7. (of sleep) deep; peaceful; unbroken
  8. thorough; complete  ⇒ a sound examination 
  9. British informal excellent
  10. law (of a title, etc) free from defect; legally valid
  11. constituting a valid and justifiable application of correct principles; orthodox  ⇒ sound theology 
  12. logic 
    1. (of a deductive argument) valid
    2. (of an inductive argument) according with whatever principles ensure the high probability of the truth of the conclusion given the truth of the premises
    3. another word for consistent (sense 5b)

adverb

  1. soundly; deeply: now archaic except when applied to sleep

Alternative Forms

ˈsoundly adverb ˈsoundness noun

Word Origin

Old English sund;  related to Old Saxon gisund,  Old High German gisunt

3sound3 (saʊndPronunciation for sound3) 

Definitions

verb

  1. to measure the depth of (a well, the sea, etc) by lowering a plumb line, by sonar, etc
  2. to seek to discover (someone's views, etc), as by questioning
  3. (intr) (of a whale, etc) to dive downwards swiftly and deeply
  4. medicine 
    1. to probe or explore (a bodily cavity or passage) by means of a sound
    2. to examine (a patient) by means of percussion and auscultation

noun

  1. medicine an instrument for insertion into a bodily cavity or passage to dilate strictures, dislodge foreign material, etc

See also

sound out

Word Origin

C14: from Old French sonder,  from sonde  sounding line, probably of Germanic origin; related to Old English sundgyrd  sounding pole, Old Norse sund strait, soundC14: from Old French from sounding line, probably of Germanic origin; related to Old English sounding pole, Old Norse strait, 4; see ; see swim

4sound4 (saʊndPronunciation for sound4) 

Definitions

noun

  1. a relatively narrow channel between two larger areas of sea or between an island and the mainland
  2. an inlet or deep bay of the sea
  3. the air bladder of a fish

Word Origin

Old English sund  swimming, narrow sea; related to Middle Low German sunt strait; see sound³

Sound (saʊndPronunciation for Sound) 

Definitions

noun

  1. See the Sound

Quotations

  • "a sound mind in a sound body" Juvenal

Translations

  • British English: sound Pronunciation for sound If something is sound, it is in good condition or healthy.The stairway was sound and undamaged.saʊnd ADJECTIVE The stairway was sound and undamaged.
  • Spanish: salvo Pronunciation for salvo adj salva
  • French: sensé Pronunciation for sensé adj
  • German: tadellos Pronunciation for tadellos adj
  • Chinese: 良好的Pronunciation for 良好的 adj
  • Arabic: سَلِيمPronunciation for سَلِيم adj
  • Portuguese: sólidoPronunciation for sólido adj
  • Russian: здоровыйPronunciation for здоровый adj здоровая
  • Croatian: zdravPronunciation for zdrav adj zdrava
  • Czech: v dobrém stavuPronunciation for v dobrém stavu adj
  • Danish: sundPronunciation for sund adj
  • Dutch: gezondPronunciation for gezond adj
  • Finnish: vahingoittumatonPronunciation for vahingoittumaton adj
  • Greek: γερόςPronunciation for γερός adj γερή
  • Italian: sanoPronunciation for sano adj sana
  • Japanese: 健全なPronunciation for 健全な no_posp
  • Korean: 건전한Pronunciation for 건전한 adj
  • Norwegian: sunnPronunciation for sunn adj
  • Polish: mocnyPronunciation for mocny adj mocna
  • Brazilian Portuguese: saudávelPronunciation for saudável n
  • European Spanish: salvo Pronunciation for salvo adj salva
  • Swedish: sundPronunciation for sund adj sunt
  • Thai: ที่ไม่เสียหายPronunciation for ที่ไม่เสียหาย adj
  • Turkish: sağlamPronunciation for sağlam adj
  • Vietnamese: lành lặnPronunciation for lành lặn adj
  • British English: sound Pronunciation for sound A sound is something that you hear.He heard the sound of a car engine outside.saʊnd NOUN He heard the sound of a car engine outside.
  • Spanish: sonido Pronunciation for sonido nm
  • French: son Pronunciation for son nm
  • German: Klang Pronunciation for Klang nm Klänge
  • Chinese: 声音Pronunciation for 声音 n
  • Arabic: صَوْتPronunciation for صَوْت n
  • Portuguese: somPronunciation for som nm
  • Russian: звукPronunciation for звук nm
  • Croatian: zvukPronunciation for zvuk nm
  • Czech: zvukPronunciation for zvuk nm
  • Danish: lydPronunciation for lyd nutr
  • Dutch: geluidPronunciation for geluid nnt
  • Finnish: ääniPronunciation for ääni n
  • Greek: ήχοςPronunciation for ήχος nm
  • Italian: suonoPronunciation for suono nm
  • Japanese: 音Pronunciation for 音 n
  • Korean: 소리Pronunciation for 소리 n
  • Norwegian: lydPronunciation for lyd nm
  • Polish: dźwiękPronunciation for dźwięk nm
  • Brazilian Portuguese: somPronunciation for som nm
  • European Spanish: sonido Pronunciation for sonido nm
  • Swedish: ljudPronunciation for ljud nnt
  • Thai: เสียงPronunciation for เสียง n
  • Turkish: sesPronunciation for ses n
  • Vietnamese: âm thanhPronunciation for âm thanh n

Usage examples

  • The scratching sound came again, louder this time, from a dark hole formed by the fallen masonry.
    Jennifer Fallon, TREASON KEEP (2001)
  • 'Yes, well, quite,' stammered the Peer, trying to sound nonchalant.
    Country Life (2004)
  • In his mid-forties, he has been banished to a world in which there is no light, no sound , no dignity, no independence.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • The sound of Logan belting out a rousing rendition of I Love a Lassie with the audience clapping along was the best memory of all.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • The noise of the falls drowned out the sound of the search plane.
    Jim Leavesley, George Biro, THE MEDICAL MYSTERIES E-OMNIBUS (2001)

Commonness

All English words that begin with 'S'

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