Definition

1. Noun:

   • Something that is heard; a noise or tone: "sound" refers to vibrations that travel through air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person's or animal's ear.
   • A particular auditory impression: "sound" can also mean the specific quality or character of a noise.
   • A long, wide ocean inlet or a narrow sea channel: In geography, "sound" is a body of water, larger than a bay or connecting two larger bodies.

2. Verb:

   • To make or cause to make a noise: The action of producing an audible vibration.
   • To seem or appear when heard: To convey a particular impression based on what is heard.
   • To measure the depth of water: To find the depth of a body of water, typically using a line or device.

3. Adjective:

   • In good condition; solid and reliable: Not damaged, weak, or faulty.
   • Based on valid reasoning or evidence: Sensible, logical, and well-founded.
   • Financially secure: Stable and safe in a financial context.
   • (Of sleep) Deep and undisturbed: A state of complete rest.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The sound of rain is very relaxing.
  • We sailed through the Puget Sound.

• Verb:

  • Sound the alarm if you see smoke.
  • Your plan sounds excellent.
  • The crew will sound the harbor's depth.

• Adjective:

  • The bridge is structurally sound.
  • She gave me some very sound advice.
  • The company is in a sound financial position.
  • After the hike, he fell into a sound sleep.

Advanced Usage

• "To sound like": To seem similar to something else when described or heard.

  • That idea sounds like a good solution.

• "Safe and sound": An idiom meaning completely unharmed and secure.

  • The missing hikers were found safe and sound.

• "Sound as a bell": An idiom meaning in perfect condition or health.

  • The mechanic said the engine is as sound as a bell.

Variants and Related Words

• Soundly (adverb): In a thorough, firm, or deep manner.

  • The team was soundly defeated.
  • He slept soundly.

• Soundness (noun): The quality or state of being sound.

  • The soundness of the argument was undeniable.

• Sounding (noun/gerund): The action of measuring depth or the process of making a sound.

  • They took a sounding of the lake.

Synonyms

• Noun: Noise, tone, audio.
• Verb: Resound, ring, seem, appear.
• Adjective: Solid, sturdy, healthy, logical, sensible, secure.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Sound off: To express one's opinions loudly or forcefully.

  • He's always sounding off about politics.

• Sound out: To try to discover someone's opinions or intentions carefully.

  • I'll sound her out about the proposal.

Related Idioms

• Sound the death knell: To signal the end of something.

  • The new regulations could sound the death knell for small businesses.

• Don't like the sound of something: To be concerned or worried by what one hears.

  • I don't like the sound of that cough; you should see a doctor.

Adjective

1. thorough
   • a sound thrashing
2. (of sleep) deep and complete
   • a heavy sleep
   • fell into a profound sleep
   • a sound sleeper
   • deep wakeless sleep
3. free from moral defect
   • a man of sound character
4. having legal efficacy or force
   • a sound title to the property
5. logically valid
   • a sound argument
6. in excellent physical condition
   • good teeth
   • I still have one good leg
   • a sound mind in a sound body
7. in good condition; free from defect or damage or decay
   • a sound timber
   • the wall is sound
   • a sound foundation
8. exercising or showing good judgment
   • healthy scepticism
   • a healthy fear of rattlesnakes
   • the healthy attitude of French laws
   • healthy relations between labor and management
   • an intelligent solution
   • a sound approach to the problem
   • sound advice
   • no sound explanation for his decision
9. financially secure and safe
   • sound investments
   • a sound economy

Noun

1. a large ocean inlet or deep bay
   • the main body of the sound ran parallel to the coast
2. a narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water
3. (phonetics) an individual sound unit of speech without concern as to whether or not it is a phoneme of some language
4. the audible part of a transmitted signal
   • they always raise the audio for commercials
5. the sudden occurrence of an audible event
   • the sound awakened them
6. mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium
   • falling trees make a sound in the forest even when no one is there to hear them
7. the subjective sensation of hearing something
   • he strained to hear the faint sounds
8. the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause
   • the sound of rain on the roof
   • the beautiful sound of music

Verb

1. measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line
2. cause to sound
   • sound the bell
   • sound a certain note
3. utter with vibrating vocal chords
4. announce by means of a sound
   • sound the alarm
5. give off a certain sound or sounds
   • This record sounds scratchy
6. make a certain noise or sound
   • She went `Mmmmm'
   • The gun went `bang'
7. appear in a certain way
   • This sounds interesting