soundness

Variant of sound

sound definition

sound (so̵und)

noun

    1. 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
    2. the auditory sensation produced by such vibrations
    1. 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
    2. such effects as transmitted by or recorded for radio, TV, films, or on phonograph records
    3. the volume or quality of transmitted or recorded sound
  1. the distance within which a given sound may be heard; earshot within sound of the bells
  2. the mental impression produced by the way something is worded; tenor; drift the sound of his report
  3. meaningless noise; racket
  4. Archaic
    1. report; rumor
    2. 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

  1. to make a sound or sounds
  2. to have a particular tone or quality of sound your voice sounds hoarse
  3. to seem, from the sound or manner of utterance to sound troubled
  4. 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

    1. to cause to sound to sound a gong
    2. to produce the sound of to sound a C on a piano
    3. to utter distinctly; articulate to sound one's r's
  1. to express, signal, indicate, or announce the clock sounds the hour
  2. to make widely known; proclaim to sound someone's praises
  3. to examine (the chest) by auscultation or percussion
sound Idioms

sound off

    1. to speak in turn, as in counting off for a military formation
    2. to count cadence in marching
  1. Slang
    1. to give voice freely to opinions, complaints, etc.
    2. 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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