SOUND

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sound mean? 

• SOUND (noun)
  The noun SOUND has 8 senses:

1. the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

2. the subjective sensation of hearing something

3. mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium

4. the sudden occurrence of an audible event

5. the audible part of a transmitted signal

6. (phonetics) an individual sound unit of speech without concern as to whether or not it is a phoneme of some language

7. a narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water

8. a large ocean inlet or deep bay

  Familiarity information: SOUND used as a noun is common.

• SOUND (adjective)
  The adjective SOUND has 10 senses:

1. financially secure and safe

2. exercising or showing good judgment

3. in good condition; free from defect or damage or decay

4. in excellent physical condition

5. logically valid

6. having legal efficacy or force

7. vigorous or severe

8. free from moral defect

9. (of sleep) deep and complete

10. complete; thorough

  Familiarity information: SOUND used as an adjective is familiar.

• SOUND (verb)
  The verb SOUND has 7 senses:

1. appear in a certain way

2. make a certain noise or sound

3. give off a certain sound or sounds

4. announce by means of a sound

5. utter with vibrating vocal chords

6. cause to sound

7. measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line

  Familiarity information: SOUND used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SOUND (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The particular auditory effect produced by a given cause

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Context example:

the beautiful sound of music

Hypernyms ("sound" is a kind of...):

sound property (an attribute of sound)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sound"):

noisiness; racketiness (the auditory effect characterized by loud and constant noise)

ring (a characteristic sound)

unison ((music) two or more sounds or tones at the same pitch or in octaves)

voice (the distinctive quality or pitch or condition of a person's speech)

Antonym:

silence (the absence of sound)

Derivation:

sound (give off a certain sound or sounds)

sound (announce by means of a sound)

sound (make a certain noise or sound)

sound (cause to sound)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The subjective sensation of hearing something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Synonyms:

auditory sensation; sound

Context example:

he strained to hear the faint sounds

Hypernyms ("sound" is a kind of...):

aesthesis; esthesis; sensation; sense datum; sense experience; sense impression (an unelaborated elementary awareness of stimulation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sound"):

euphony; music (any agreeable (pleasing and harmonious) sounds)

music ((music) the sounds produced by singers or musical instruments (or reproductions of such sounds))

pure tone; tone (a steady sound without overtones)

dissonance; noise; racket (the auditory experience of sound that lacks musical quality; sound that is a disagreeable auditory experience)

dub (the new sounds added by dubbing)

Derivation:

sound (give off a certain sound or sounds)

sound (cause to sound)

sound (announce by means of a sound)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Context example:

falling trees make a sound in the forest even when no one is there to hear them

Hypernyms ("sound" is a kind of...):

mechanical phenomenon (a physical phenomenon associated with the equilibrium or motion of objects)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sound"):

ultrasound (very high frequency sound; used in ultrasonography)

Derivation:

sound (give off a certain sound or sounds)

sound (make a certain noise or sound)

sound (cause to sound)

sound (announce by means of a sound)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The sudden occurrence of an audible event

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Context example:

the sound awakened them

Hypernyms ("sound" is a kind of...):

happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent (an event that happens)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sound"):

bong (a dull resonant sound as of a bell)

beat (the sound of stroke or blow)

beep; bleep (a short high tone produced as a signal or warning)

bell; toll (the sound of a bell being struck)

bombilation; bombination; buzz (sound of rapid vibration)

chink; click; clink (a short light metallic sound)

chirp (a sharp sound made by small birds or insects)

chirrup; twitter (a series of chirps)

chorus (any utterance produced simultaneously by a group)

click-clack (a succession of clicks)

clip-clop; clippety-clop; clop; clopping; clumping; clunking (the sound of a horse's hoofs hitting on a hard surface)

cry (the characteristic utterance of an animal)

ding (a ringing sound)

drip; dripping (the sound of a liquid falling drop by drop)

drum (the sound of a drum)

footfall; footstep; step (the sound of a step of someone walking)

gargle (the sound produced while gargling)

gurgle (the bubbling sound of water flowing from a bottle with a narrow neck)

jangle; jingle (a metallic sound)

knock; knocking (the sound of knocking (as on a door or in an engine or bearing))

murmur; murmuration; murmuring; mussitation; mutter; muttering (a low continuous indistinct sound; often accompanied by movement of the lips without the production of articulate speech)

noise (sound of any kind (especially unintelligible or dissonant sound))

drum roll; paradiddle; roll (the sound of a drum (especially a snare drum) beaten rapidly and continuously)

pat; rap; tap (the sound made by a gentle blow)

patter (a quick succession of light rapid sounds)

peal; pealing; roll; rolling (a deep prolonged sound (as of thunder or large bells))

ping (a sharp high-pitched resonant sound (as of a sonar echo or a bullet striking metal))

plunk (a hollow twanging sound)

pop; popping (a sharp explosive sound as from a gunshot or drawing a cork)

purr (a low vibrating sound typical of a contented cat)

quack (the harsh sound of a duck)

quaver (a tremulous sound)

ring; ringing; tintinnabulation (the sound of a bell ringing)

drumbeat; rataplan; rub-a-dub (the sound made by beating a drum)

sigh (a sound like a person sighing)

skirl (the sound of (the chanter of) a bagpipe)

song (a distinctive or characteristic sound)

strum (sound of strumming)

susurration; susurrus (the indistinct sound of people whispering)

swish (a brushing or rustling sound)

tapping (the sound of light blow or knock)

throbbing (a sound with a strong rhythmic beat)

clump; clunk; thud; thump; thumping (a heavy dull sound (as made by impact of heavy objects))

thrum (a thrumming sound)

thunk (a dull hollow sound)

tick; ticking (a metallic tapping sound)

ting; tinkle (a light clear metallic sound as of a small bell)

toot (a blast of a horn)

tootle (the sound of casual playing on a musical instrument)

trample; trampling (the sound of heavy treading or stomping)

twang (a sharp vibrating sound (as of a plucked string))

vibrato ((music) a pulsating effect in an instrumental or vocal tone produced by slight and rapid variations in pitch)

voice (a sound suggestive of a vocal utterance)

vroom (the roaring sound made by a motor that is running at high speed)

whack (the sound made by a sharp swift blow)

birr; whir; whirr; whirring (sound of something in rapid motion)

whistle; whistling (the sound made by something moving rapidly or by steam coming out of a small aperture)

whiz (a buzzing or hissing sound as of something traveling rapidly through the air)

zing (a brief high-pitched buzzing or humming sound)

zizz (a buzzing or whizzing sound)

Derivation:

sound (cause to sound)

sound (announce by means of a sound)

sound (make a certain noise or sound)

sound (give off a certain sound or sounds)

Sense 5

Meaning:

The audible part of a transmitted signal

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

audio; sound

Context example:

they always raise the audio for commercials

Hypernyms ("sound" is a kind of...):

auditory communication (communication that relies on hearing)

Holonyms ("sound" is a part of...):

telecasting; television; TV; video (broadcasting visual images of stationary or moving objects)

Derivation:

sound (make a certain noise or sound)

sound (announce by means of a sound)

Sense 6

Meaning:

(phonetics) an individual sound unit of speech without concern as to whether or not it is a phoneme of some language

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

phone; sound; speech sound

Hypernyms ("sound" is a kind of...):

language unit; linguistic unit (one of the natural units into which linguistic messages can be analyzed)

Domain category:

phonetics (the branch of acoustics concerned with speech processes including its production and perception and acoustic analysis)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sound"):

phoneme ((linguistics) one of a small set of speech sounds that are distinguished by the speakers of a particular language)

vowel; vowel sound (a speech sound made with the vocal tract open)

glide; semivowel (a vowellike sound that serves as a consonant)

consonant (a speech sound that is not a vowel)

orinasal; orinasal phone (a speech sound produced with both the oral and nasal passages open (as French nasal vowels))

sonant; voiced sound (a speech sound accompanied by sound from the vocal cords)

Holonyms ("sound" is a part of...):

utterance; vocalization (the use of uttered sounds for auditory communication)

Derivation:

sound (utter with vibrating vocal chords)

sound (announce by means of a sound)

Sense 7

Meaning:

A narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

sound; strait

Hypernyms ("sound" is a kind of...):

channel (a deep and relatively narrow body of water (as in a river or a harbor or a strait linking two larger bodies) that allows the best passage for vessels)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sound"):

narrow (a narrow strait connecting two bodies of water)

Instance hyponyms:

Canakkale Bogazi; Dardanelles; Hellespont (the strait between the Aegean and the Sea of Marmara that separates European Turkey from Asian Turkey)

East River (a tidal strait separating Manhattan and the Bronx from Queens and Brooklyn)

Bering Strait (a strait connecting the Bering Sea to the Arctic Ocean)

Bosporus (a strait connecting the Mediterranean and the Black Sea; separates the European and Asian parts of Turkey; an important shipping route)

Cook Strait (a narrow strait separating the North Island and South Island in New Zealand)

Golden Gate (a strait in western California that connects the San Francisco Bay with the Pacific Ocean; discovered in 1579 by Sir Francis Drake)

Kattegatt (a strait of the North Sea between Jutland and Sweden; connects with the North Sea through the Skagerrak)

Korea Strait; Korean Strait (a strait between Korea and Japan; connects the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan)

Menai Strait (a strait in northern Wales between Anglesey Island and the mainland)

North Channel (a strait between Northern Ireland and Scotland that connects the Atlantic Ocean and the Irish Sea)

Skagerak; Skagerrak (a broad strait of the North Sea between Jutland and Norway)

Solent (a strait of the English Channel between the coast of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight)

Strait of Georgia (the strait separating Vancouver Island from the Canadian mainland)

Strait of Gibraltar (the strait between Spain and Africa)

Strait of Hormuz; Strait of Ormuz (a strategically important strait linking the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman)

Strait of Magellan (the strait separating South America from Tierra del Fuego and other islands to the south of the continent; discovered by Ferdinand Magellan in 1520; an important route around South America before the Panama Canal was built)

Strait of Messina (the strait separating Sicily from the tip of Italy)

Pas de Calais; Strait of Calais; Strait of Dover (the strait between the English Channel and the North Sea; shortest distance between England and the European continent)

Strait of Malacca (the strait between the Malay Peninsula and Sumatra; it connects the Pacific Ocean to the east with the Indian Ocean to the west and is an important shipping lane)

Torres Strait (a strait between northeastern Australia and southern New Guinea that connects the Coral Sea with the Arafura Sea)

Sense 8

Meaning:

A large ocean inlet or deep bay

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Context example:

the main body of the sound ran parallel to the coast

Hypernyms ("sound" is a kind of...):

body of water; water (the part of the earth's surface covered with water (such as a river or lake or ocean))

Instance hyponyms:

Long Island Sound (a sound between Long Island and Connecticut)

Puget Sound (an inlet of the North Pacific in northwestern Washington State)

Queen Charlotte Sound (an inlet of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of British Columbia)

Derivation:

sound (measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line)

• SOUND (adjective)

Declension: comparative and superlative

Sense 1

Meaning:

Financially secure and safe

Context example:

a sound economy

Similar:

dependable; good; safe; secure (financially safe)

healthy (financially secure and functioning well)

solid (financially sound)

stable (firm and dependable; subject to little fluctuation)

Also:

unbroken (not broken; whole and intact; in one piece)

undamaged (not harmed or spoiled; sound)

fit (physically and mentally sound or healthy)

healthy (having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease)

uninjured (not injured physically or mentally)

wholesome (conducive to or characteristic of physical or moral well-being)

Antonym:

unsound (not sound financially)

Derivation:

soundness (a state or condition free from damage or decay)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Exercising or showing good judgment

Synonyms:

healthy; intelligent; level-headed; levelheaded; sound

Context example:

no sound explanation for his decision

Similar:

reasonable; sensible (showing reason or sound judgment)

Sense 3

Meaning:

In good condition; free from defect or damage or decay

Context example:

a sound foundation

Similar:

solid; strong; substantial (of good quality and condition; solidly built)

Antonym:

unsound (not in good condition; damaged or decayed)

Derivation:

soundness (a state or condition free from damage or decay)

Sense 4

Meaning:

In excellent physical condition

Synonyms:

good; sound

Context example:

a sound mind in a sound body

Similar:

healthy (having or indicating good health in body or mind; free from infirmity or disease)

Derivation:

soundness (the muscle tone of healthy tissue)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Logically valid

Synonyms:

reasoned; sound; well-grounded

Context example:

a sound argument

Similar:

valid (well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force)

Derivation:

soundness (the quality of being prudent and sensible)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Having legal efficacy or force

Synonyms:

effectual; legal; sound

Context example:

a sound title to the property

Similar:

valid (well grounded in logic or truth or having legal force)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Vigorous or severe

Context example:

a sound thrashing

Similar:

strong (having strength or power greater than average or expected)

Sense 8

Meaning:

Free from moral defect

Context example:

a man of sound character

Similar:

righteous (characterized by or proceeding from accepted standards of morality or justice)

Derivation:

soundness (the quality of being prudent and sensible)

Sense 9

Meaning:

(of sleep) deep and complete

Synonyms:

heavy; profound; sound; wakeless

Context example:

deep wakeless sleep

Similar:

deep (relatively deep or strong; affecting one deeply)

Sense 10

Meaning:

Complete; thorough

Context example:

he has a sound understanding of the law

Similar:

complete (having every necessary or normal part or component or step)

• SOUND (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Appear in a certain way

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

This sounds interesting

Hypernyms (to "sound" is one way to...):

appear; look; seem (give a certain impression or have a certain outward aspect)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s Adjective

Sentence example:

John will sound angry

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make a certain noise or sound

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

go; sound

Context example:

The gun went 'bang'

Hypernyms (to "sound" is one way to...):

cause to be perceived (have perceptible qualities)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sound"):

snarl (make a snarling noise or move with a snarling noise)

sing; whistle (make a whining, ringing, or whistling sound)

blow (make a sound as if blown)

ting (make a light, metallic sound; go 'ting')

make noise; noise; resound (emit a noise)

splat (give off the sound of a bullet flattening on impact)

twang (sound with a twang)

clang; clangor (make a loud noise)

clank (make a clank)

clangor; clangour (make a loud resonant noise)

boom; boom out (make a deep hollow sound)

beat; drum; thrum (make a rhythmic sound)

rattle (make short successive sounds)

beat; tick; ticktack; ticktock (make a sound like a clock or a timer)

resonate; vibrate (sound with resonance)

crash (make a sudden loud sound)

tweet; twirp (make a weak, chirping sound)

skirl (make a shrill, wailing sound)

gurgle (make sounds similar to gurgling water)

glug (make a gurgling sound as of liquid issuing from a bottle)

blow (sound by having air expelled through a tube)

whish (make a sibilant sound)

guggle (make a sound like a liquid that is being poured from a bottle)

ping (make a short high-pitched sound)

knock; ping; pink (sound like a car engine that is firing too early)

trump (produce a sound as if from a trumpet)

squelch (make a sucking sound)

chug (make a dull, explosive sound)

peal; ring (sound loudly and sonorously)

bombilate; bombinate; buzz (make a buzzing sound)

chime (emit a sound)

rustle (make a dry crackling sound)

crack; snap (make a sharp sound)

crack (make a very sharp explosive sound)

beep; blare; claxon; honk; toot (make a loud noise)

whistle (make whistling sounds)

echo; resound; reverberate; ring (ring or echo with sound)

thud; thump (make a dull sound)

clop; clump; clunk; plunk (make or move along with a sound as of a horse's hooves striking the ground)

patter; pitter-patter (make light, rapid and repeated sounds)

knock; pink; rap; tap (make light, repeated taps on a surface)

click; tick (make a clicking or ticking sound)

chatter; click (click repeatedly or uncontrollably)

pop (make a sharp explosive noise)

chink; clink; tink; tinkle (make or emit a high sound)

slosh; slush; splash; splosh (make a splashing sound)

hum; thrum (sound with a monotonous hum)

bleep (emit a single short high-pitched signal)

grumble; rumble (make a low noise)

boom; din (make a resonant sound, like artillery)

bang (to produce a sharp often metallic explosive or percussive sound)

babble; bubble; burble; guggle; gurgle; ripple (flow in an irregular current with a bubbling noise)

lap; swish; swoosh; swosh (move with or cause to move with a whistling or hissing sound)

drone (make a monotonous low dull sound)

birr; purr; whir; whirr; whiz; whizz (make a soft swishing sound)

roll (emit, produce, or utter with a deep prolonged reverberating sound)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something ----s Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s Adjective

Sentence example:

The woods sound with many kinds of birds

Derivation:

sound (the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause)

sound (the audible part of a transmitted signal)

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

sound (mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Give off a certain sound or sounds

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

This record sounds scratchy

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sound"):

cackel (make a cackling sound)

play (emit recorded sound)

dissonate (be dissonant or harsh)

pierce (sound sharply or shrilly)

speak (make a characteristic or natural sound)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s Adjective/Noun
Somebody ----s Adjective

Derivation:

sound (the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause)

sound (the subjective sensation of hearing something)

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

sound (mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Announce by means of a sound

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

sound the alarm

Hypernyms (to "sound" is one way to...):

announce; denote (make known; make an announcement)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

sound (mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium)

sound ((phonetics) an individual sound unit of speech without concern as to whether or not it is a phoneme of some language)

sound (the audible part of a transmitted signal)

sound (the subjective sensation of hearing something)

sound (the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Utter with vibrating vocal chords

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

sound; vocalise; vocalize; voice

Hypernyms (to "sound" is one way to...):

articulate; enounce; enunciate; pronounce; say; sound out (speak, pronounce, or utter in a certain way)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sound"):

chirk (make a shrill creaking, squeaking, or noise, as of a door, mouse, or bird)

quaver; waver (give off unsteady sounds, alternating in amplitude or frequency)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

sound ((phonetics) an individual sound unit of speech without concern as to whether or not it is a phoneme of some language)

sonant (a speech sound accompanied by sound from the vocal cords)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Cause to sound

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Context example:

sound a certain note

Cause:

go; sound (make a certain noise or sound)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "sound"):

play (perform music on (a musical instrument))

blow (play or sound a wind instrument)

twang (cause to sound with a twang)

prepare (lead up to and soften by sounding the dissonant note in it as a consonant note in the preceding chord)

gong (sound a gong)

ting (cause to make a ting)

strum; thrum (sound the strings of (a stringed instrument))

knell; ring (make (bells) ring, often for the purposes of musical edification)

pop (cause to make a sharp explosive sound)

clink (make a high sound typical of glass)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Also:

sound off (start playing)

Derivation:

sound (the sudden occurrence of an audible event)

sound (mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium)

sound (the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause)

sound (the subjective sensation of hearing something)

Sense 7

Meaning:

Measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

fathom; sound

Hypernyms (to "sound" is one way to...):

measure; quantify (express as a number or measure or quantity)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

sound (a large ocean inlet or deep bay)

sounder (a device for making soundings)

sounding (the act of measuring depth of water (usually with a sounding line))

sounding (a measure of the depth of water taken with a sounding line)

 Context examples 

“Come! I want some very sound advice.”

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

A channel or tunnel for the tensor tympani muscle within the tympanic cavity which acts to dull sounds.

(Canal for Tensor Tympani, NCI Thesaurus)

Presently a bell sounded, the curtains flew apart, and the operatic tragedy began.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

At the sound of the woman's name, John Messner became suddenly alert.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

He had evidently heard some suspicious sounds, and he came prepared for such a scene as he found.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Total inability to hear sounds in one or both ears.

(Complete Deafness, NCI Thesaurus)

After the usual period of suspense, the usual sounds of approach were heard, and "Mr and Mrs Charles Musgrove" were ushered into the room.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

But all the way through, from the first sentence to the last, was sounded the note of hurt and disappointment.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Having to do with sound or hearing.

(Acoustic, NCI Dictionary)

A device designed to signal the occurrence of a particular event by making a sound.

(Audible Alarm Device Component, NCI Thesaurus)