n.
- Vibrations transmitted through an elastic solid or a liquid or gas, with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing.
- Transmitted vibrations of any frequency.
- The sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by such vibrations in the air or other medium.
- Such sensations considered as a group.
- A distinctive noise: a hollow sound.
- The distance over which something can be heard: within sound of my voice.
- Linguistics.
- An articulation made by the vocal apparatus: a vowel sound.
- The distinctive character of such an articulation: The words bear and bare have the same sound.
- A mental impression; an implication: didn't like the sound of the invitation.
- Auditory material that is recorded, as for a movie.
- Meaningless noise.
- Music. A distinctive style, as of an orchestra or a singer.
- Archaic. Rumor; report.
v., sound·ed, sound·ing, sounds. v.intr.
- To make or give forth a sound: The siren sounded.
- To be given forth as a sound: The fanfare sounded.
- To present a particular impression: That argument sounds reasonable.
- To cause to give forth or produce a sound: sounded the gong.
- To summon, announce, or signal by a sound: sound a warning.
- Linguistics. To articulate; pronounce: sound a vowel.
- To make known; celebrate: "Nations unborn your mighty names shall sound" (Alexander Pope).
- To examine (a body organ or part) by causing to emit sound; auscultate.
sound off
- To express one's views vigorously: was always sounding off about higher taxes.
- To count cadence when marching in military formation.
[Middle English soun, from Old French son, from Latin sonus.]
sound2 (sound)
adj., sound·er, sound·est.
- Free from defect, decay, or damage; in good condition.
- Free from disease or injury. See synonyms at healthy.
- Having a firm basis; unshakable: a sound foundation.
- Financially secure or safe: a sound economy.
- Based on valid reasoning: a sound observation. See synonyms at valid.
- Free from logical flaws: sound reasoning.
- Logic. Of or relating to an argument in which all the premises are true and the conclusion follows from the premises.
- Thorough; complete: a sound flogging.
- Deep and unbroken; undisturbed: a sound sleep.
- Free from moral defect; upright.
- Worthy of confidence; trustworthy.
- Marked by or showing common sense and good judgment; levelheaded: a sound approach to the problem.
- Compatible with an accepted point of view; conservative.
- Law. Legally valid.
Thoroughly; deeply: sound asleep.
[Middle English, from Old English gesund.]
soundly sound'ly adv.soundness sound'ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
