I. NOUN AND VERB USES
(~s, ~ing, ~ed)
Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English.
Please look at category 12 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1.
A ~ is something that you hear.
Peter heard the ~ of gunfire...
Liza was so frightened she couldn’t make a ~...
There was a splintering ~ as the railing gave way.
...the ~s of children playing.
N-COUNT
2.
Sound is energy that travels in waves through air, water, or other substances, and can be heard.
The aeroplane will travel at twice the speed of ~.
N-UNCOUNT
3.
The ~ on a television, radio, or CD player is what you hear coming from the machine. Its loudness can be controlled.
She went and turned the ~ down...
Compact discs have brought about a vast improvement in recorded ~ quality.
N-SING: the N
4.
A singer’s or band’s ~ is the distinctive quality of their music.
He’s got a unique ~ and a unique style.
N-COUNT: with supp
5.
If something such as a horn or a bell ~s or if you ~ it, it makes a noise.
The buzzer ~ed in Daniel’s office...
A young man ~s the bell to start the Sunday service.
VERB: V, V n
6.
If you ~ a warning, you publicly give it. If you ~ a note of caution or optimism, you say publicly that you are cautious or optimistic.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has ~ed a warning to Europe’s leaders on third world debt...
VERB: V n
7.
When you are describing a noise, you can talk about the way it ~s.
They heard what ~ed like a huge explosion...
The creaking of the hinges ~ed very loud in that silence...
It ~ed as if he were trying to say something.
V-LINK: V like n, V adj, V as if
8.
When you talk about the way someone ~s, you are describing the impression you have of them when they speak.
She ~ed a bit worried...
Murphy ~s like a child...
She ~ed as if she really cared...
I thought she ~ed a genuinely caring and helpful person.
V-LINK: V adj, V like n, V as if, V n
9.
When you are describing your impression or opinion of something you have heard about or read about, you can talk about the way it ~s.
It ~s like a wonderful idea to me, does it really work?...
It ~s as if they might have made a dreadful mistake...
She decided that her doctor’s advice ~ed pretty good...
The book is not as morbid as it ~s...
I know this ~s a crazy thing for me to ask you.
V-LINK: V like n, V as if, V adj, V adj, V n
10.
You can describe your impression of something you have heard about or read about by talking about the ~ of it.
Here’s a new idea we liked the ~ of...
From the ~ of things, he might well be the same man...
N-SING: the N of n
11.
see also -~ing , ~ing
12.
to ~ the alarm: see alarm
to ~ the death knell: see death knell
safe and ~: see safe
II. ADJECTIVE USES
(~er, ~est)
1.
If a structure, part of someone’s body, or someone’s mind is ~, it is in good condition or healthy.
When we bought the house, it was structurally ~...
Although the car is basically ~, I was worried about certain areas...
ADJ: usu v-link ADJ, oft adv ADJ
2.
Sound advice, reasoning, or evidence is reliable and sensible.
They are trained nutritionists who can give ~ advice on diets...
Buy a policy only from an insurance company that is financially ~...
His reasoning is perfectly ~, but he misses the point...
ADJ
3.
If you describe someone’s ideas as ~, you mean that you approve of them and think they are correct.
I am not sure that this is ~ democratic practice...
I think the idea of secularism is a very ~ one...
ADJ approval
4.
If someone is in a ~ sleep, they are sleeping very deeply.
She had woken me out of a ~ sleep.
ADJ: ADJ n
•
Sound is also an adverb.
He was lying in bed, ~ asleep.
ADV: ADV adj
5.
see also ~ly