/ saʊnd; NAmE / noun , verb , adjective , adverb
■ noun
STH YOU HEAR
1.
[ C ] something that you can hear
SYN noise :
a high / low sound
a clicking / buzzing / scratching, etc. sound
the different sounds and smells of the forest
She heard the sound of footsteps outside.
He crept into the house trying not to make a sound .
2.
[ U ] continuous rapid movements, (called vibrations ) that travel through air or water and can be heard when they reach a person's or an animal's ear :
Sound travels more slowly than light.
➡ note at noise
FROM TELEVISION / RADIO
3.
[ U ] what you can hear coming from a television, radio, etc., or as part of a film / movie :
Could you turn the sound up / down ?
The sound quality of the tapes was excellent.
OF MUSICIANS
4.
[ C , U ] the effect that is produced by the music of a particular singer or group of musicians :
I like their sound.
IMPRESSION
5.
[ sing. ] the ~ of sth the idea or impression that you get of sb/sth from what sb says or what you read :
They had a wonderful time by the sound of it .
From the sound of things you were lucky to find him.
They're consulting a lawyer? I don't like the sound of that .
WATER
6.
[ C ] (often in place names) a narrow passage of water that joins two larger areas of water
SYN strait
•
IDIOMS
- like, etc. the sound of your own voice
- within (the) sound of sth
■ verb
(not usually used in the progressive tenses)
GIVE IMPRESSION
1.
linking verb to give a particular impression when heard or read about :
[ v - adj ]
His voice sounded strange on the phone.
She didn't sound surprised when I told her the news.
His explanation sounds reasonable to me.
Leo made it sound so easy. But it wasn't.
[ v - n ]
She sounds just the person we need for the job.
[ v ]
You sounded just like your father when you said that.
I hope I don't sound as if / as though I'm criticizing you.
HELP NOTE : In spoken English people often use like instead of as if or as though , especially in NAmE , but this is not considered correct in written BrE .
-SOUNDING
2.
(in adjectives) giving the impression of having a particular sound :
an Italian-sounding name
fine-sounding words
PRODUCE SOUND
3.
to produce a sound; to make sth such as a musical instrument produce a sound :
[ v ]
The bell sounded for the end of the class.
[ vn ]
Passing motorists sounded their horns in support.
GIVE WARNING / SIGNAL
4.
[ vn ] to give a signal such as a warning by making a sound :
When I saw the smoke, I tried to sound the alarm .
( figurative )
Scientists have sounded a note of caution on the technique.
Leaving him out of the team may sound the death knell for our chances of winning (= signal the end of our chances) .
PRONOUNCE
5.
[ vn ] ( technical ) to pronounce sth :
You don't sound the 'b' in the word 'comb'.
MEASURE DEPTH
6.
[ vn , v ] ( technical ) to measure the depth of the sea or a lake by using a line with a weight attached, or an electronic instrument
•
IDIOMS
see note noun , suspiciously
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- sound off (about sth)
- sound sb out (about / on sth) | sound sth out
■ adjective
( sound·er , sound·est )
RELIABLE
1.
sensible; that you can rely on and that will probably give good results :
a person of sound judgement
He gave me some very sound advice.
This gives the design team a sound basis for their work.
The proposal makes sound commercial sense.
Their policies are environmentally sound.
OPP unsound
THOROUGH
2.
[ only before noun ] good and thorough :
a sound knowledge / understanding of sth
He has a sound grasp of the issues.
NOT DAMAGED / HURT
3.
in good condition; not damaged, hurt, etc. :
We arrived home safe and sound .
to be of sound mind (= not mentally ill)
The house needs attention but the roof is sound.
OPP unsound
SLEEP
4.
[ usually before noun ] deep and peaceful :
to have a sound night's sleep
to be a sound sleeper
GOOD, BUT NOT EXCELLENT
5.
good and accurate, but not excellent :
a sound piece of writing
a sound tennis player
PHYSICAL PUNISHMENT
6.
severe :
to give sb a sound beating
► sound·ness noun [ U ]:
soundness of judgement
financial soundness
the soundness of the building's foundations
—see also soundly
•
IDIOMS
- (as) sound as a bell
■ adverb
~ asleep very deeply asleep
••
WORD ORIGIN
noun senses 1 to 5 and verb senses 1 to 5 sound off. Middle English soun , from Anglo-Norman French soun (noun), suner (verb), from Latin sonus . The form with -d was established in the 16th cent.
adjective and adverb sound sb out / sound sth out. Middle English : from Old English gesund , of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch gezond and German gesund .
verb sense 6 late Middle English : from Old French sonder , based on Latin sub- below + unda wave.
noun sense 6 Middle English : from Old Norse sund swimming, strait; related to swim .