sonorous
/sə'nɔ:rəs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Full, loud, and deep in sound: Describes a sound that is impressively rich, resonant, and often powerful.
- Capable of producing a deep or ringing sound: Describes something, like a material or an object, that can make such a sound.
- Impressively grand or high-flown in style: Used to describe language or speech that is formal, imposing, or lofty in tone.
Usage Examples
- Describing a sound or voice:
- The sonorous toll of the cathedral bell echoed through the valley.
- He has a wonderfully sonorous voice, perfect for reading poetry aloud.
- Describing language or style:
- The diplomat delivered his speech in sonorous phrases.
- The sonorous prose of the 19th-century novel can be challenging for modern readers.
Advanced Usage
- "Sonorous quality": Refers to the resonant characteristic of a sound.
- The cello is prized for its sonorous quality in the lower register.
- Used in technical contexts (e.g., medicine, phonetics):
- A sonorous rhonchus is a type of abnormal breathing sound heard through a stethoscope.
Variants and Related Words
- Sonorously (adverb): In a sonorous manner.
- The judge sonorously declared the court in session.
- Sonorousness (noun): The quality of being sonorous.
- The sonorousness of his voice commanded attention.
Synonyms
- Resonant: (of a sound) deep, clear, and continuing to sound or ring.
- Melodious: Pleasant-sounding; musical.
- Orotund: (of a voice or phrasing) full, round, and imposing (often used of speech or writing).
- Rich: (of a sound or voice) pleasingly deep and full.
Antonyms
- Thin: (of a sound) lacking fullness or resonance; weak.
- Shrill: (of a voice or sound) high-pitched and piercing.
- Muffled: (of a sound) not loud because of being obstructed in some way.
Related Phrases and Idioms
- "Sonorous tones": A common phrase to describe deep, impressive vocal sounds.
- The lecturer captivated the audience with his sonorous tones.
- "A sonorous silence": A literary phrase describing a silence that feels profound, heavy, or significant, as if it has a quality of sound.
- A sonorous silence fell over the crowd after the shocking announcement.
Adjective
- full and loud and deep
- heavy sounds
- a herald chosen for his sonorous voice