soundly
Variant of sound
sound (so̵und)
noun
- vibrations in air, water, etc. that stimulate the auditory nerves and produce the sensation of hearing: although the speed of sound varies considerably, the standard is c. 331 meters per second (c. 740 mph), which is the speed in dry air at STP
- the auditory sensation produced by such vibrations
- any auditory effect that is distinctive or characteristic of its source; identifiable noise, tone, vocal utterance, etc. the sound of a violin, a speech sound
- such effects as transmitted by or recorded for radio, TV, films, or on phonograph records
- the volume or quality of transmitted or recorded sound
- the distance within which a given sound may be heard; earshot within sound of the bells
- the mental impression produced by the way something is worded; tenor; drift the sound of his report
- meaningless noise; racket
- Archaic
- report; rumor
- meaning; significance
Etymology: < ME soun (+ unhistoric -d) < OFr son < L sonus < IE *swonos, a sound, noise < base *swen-, to sound > OE swinsian, to sing, make music
intransitive verb
- to make a sound or sounds
- to have a particular tone or quality of sound your voice sounds hoarse
- to seem, from the sound or manner of utterance to sound troubled
- to seem to be or appear to be, based on information one has heard their plan sounds crazy
Etymology: ME sounen < OFr soner < L sonare
transitive verb
- to cause to sound to sound a gong
- to produce the sound of to sound a C on a piano
- to utter distinctly; articulate to sound one's r's
- to express, signal, indicate, or announce the clock sounds the hour
- to make widely known; proclaim to sound someone's praises
- to examine (the chest) by auscultation or percussion
sound off
- ☆
- to speak in turn, as in counting off for a military formation
- to count cadence in marching
- ☆ Slang
- to give voice freely to opinions, complaints, etc.
- to speak in a loud or offensive way, as in boasting
Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
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