sound1

 
Pronunciation: /saʊnd/

noun

[mass noun]
  • 1vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person’s or animal’s ear: light travels faster than sound
  • [count noun] a thing that can be heard: she heard the sound of voices in the hall don’t make a sound
  • the area or distance within which something can be heard: we were always within sound of the train whistles
  • 2 (also musical sound) sound produced by continuous and regular vibrations, as opposed to noise.
  • 3music, speech, and sound effects when recorded and used to accompany a film, video, or broadcast: [as modifier]: a sound studio
  • broadcasting by radio as distinct from television.
  • the distinctive quality of the music of a particular composer or performer or of the sound produced by a particular instrument: the sound of the Beatles
  • (sounds) informal popular music: sounds of the Sixties
  • 4 [in singular] an idea or impression conveyed by words: you’ve had a hard day, by the sound of it

verb

  • 1emit or cause to emit sound: [no object]: a loud buzzer sounded [with object]: she sounded the horn
  • [with object] give an audible signal to indicate (something): a different bell begins to sound midnight
  • [with object] express or convey (a warning): pharmaceutical companies are sounding the alarm about counterfeit drugs
  • [with object] pronounce: sound the rhymes clearly
  • [with object] test (the lungs or another body cavity) by noting the sound they produce: the doctor sounded her chest
  • 2 [no object] convey a specified impression when heard: [with complement]: he sounded worried
  • (of something or someone that has been described to one) convey a specified impression: it sounds as though you really do believe that [with complement]: the house sounds lovely

Phrasal Verbs

sound off

express one’s opinions in a loud or forceful manner: Pietro started sounding off to the press

Derivatives

soundless

adjective

soundlessly

adverb

soundlessness

noun

Origin:

Middle English soun, from Anglo-Norman French soun (noun), suner (verb), from Latin sonus. The form with -d was established in the 16th century