Definition

1. Verb:
   • To make a soft, low, murmuring, sighing, or rustling sound, like that of the wind blowing gently through trees or over water.

Examples of Usage

• Verb:
  • The wind soughed through the pine trees.
  • A gentle breeze soughed in the tall grass.
  • We could hear the stream soughing over the stones.

Advanced Usage

• Literary/Descriptive Use: "Sough" is primarily used in literary or descriptive contexts to evoke a specific, often peaceful, auditory atmosphere.
  • The only sound was the soughing of the night wind.
• Figurative Use: It can sometimes be used figuratively to describe a soft, continuous, murmuring sound that is not wind.
  • The distant traffic soughed like a far-off sea.

Variants and Related Words

• Soughing (noun/adj): The act or sound of soughing; making a soughing sound.
  • The soughing of the leaves was calming.

Synonyms

• Murmur: To make a low, continuous, indistinct sound.
• Rustle: To make a soft, muffled crackling sound like that of dry leaves or paper.
• Sigh: To make a sound like a long, soft exhalation.
• Purr: To make a low, continuous vibratory sound (often for a cat or engine, but can describe similar soft sounds).

Related Phrases/Idioms

• None directly associated: "Sough" itself is not commonly used in fixed idioms or phrasal verbs. Its usage is typically direct and descriptive.

Verb

1. make a murmuring sound
   • the water was purling