Sound Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Published on March 8, 2024
Sound refers to vibrations that travel through the air or another medium and can be heard when they reach a person's or animal's ear. e.g., The sound of the ocean waves was soothing.
Table of Contents
Sound Definitions
Vibrations perceivable by the ears.
The sound of rain against the window was calming.
An auditory sensation experienced.
The sound of her laughter filled the room.
A particular auditory effect produced by a given cause.
The sound of the bell signaled the end of the period.
The idea conveyed or intended by words, actions, etc.
His speech gave the sound of sincerity.
To measure the depth of water.
They sounded the depth before anchoring the boat.
The distance within which something can be heard.
The waterfall was within sound of our campsite.
Musical or vocal tones.
The band's sound was unique and captivating.
To emit or produce a sound.
The alarm clock sounded early in the morning.
To appear in a certain way when heard.
His voice sounded hoarse.
A narrow passage of water between two larger bodies of water.
They sailed through the sound between the islands.
Vibrations transmitted through an elastic solid or a liquid or gas, with frequencies in the approximate range of 20 to 20,000 hertz, capable of being detected by human organs of hearing.
Transmitted vibrations of any frequency.
The sensation stimulated in the organs of hearing by such vibrations in the air or other medium.
Such sensations considered as a group.
A distinctive noise
A hollow sound.
The distance over which something can be heard
Within sound of my voice.
An articulation made by the vocal apparatus
A vowel sound.
The distinctive character of such an articulation
The words bear and bare have the same sound.
A mental impression; an implication
Didn't like the sound of the invitation.
Auditory material that is recorded, as for a movie.
Meaningless noise.
(Music) A distinctive style, as of an orchestra or singer.
(Archaic) Rumor; report.
A long, relatively wide body of water, larger than a strait or a channel, connecting larger bodies of water.
A long, wide ocean inlet.
(Archaic) The swim bladder of a fish.
An instrument used to examine or explore body cavities, as for foreign bodies or other abnormalities, or to dilate strictures in them.
To make or give forth a sound
The siren sounded.
To be given forth as a sound
The fanfare sounded.
To present a particular impression
That argument sounds reasonable.
To cause to give forth or produce a sound
Sounded the gong.
To summon, announce, or signal by a sound
Sound a warning.
(Linguistics) To articulate; pronounce
Sound a vowel.
To make known; celebrate
"Nations unborn your mighty names shall sound" (Alexander Pope).
To examine (a body organ or part) by causing to emit sound; auscultate.
To measure the depth of (water), especially by means of a weighted line; fathom.
To try to learn the attitudes or opinions of
Sounded out her feelings.
To probe (a body cavity) with a sound.
To measure depth.
To dive swiftly downward. Used of a marine mammal or a fish.
To look into a possibility; investigate.
Free from defect, decay, or damage; in good condition
Is the bridge sound?.
Free from disease or injury.
Marked by or showing common sense and good judgment; levelheaded
A sound approach to the problem.
Based on valid reasoning; having no logical flaws
A sound conclusion.
Sound reasoning.
(Logic) Of or relating to an argument in which all the premises are true and the conclusion follows from the premises.
Secure or stable
A partnership that started on a sound footing.
Financially secure or safe
A sound economy.
Thorough; complete
Gave their rivals a sound thrashing.
Deep and unbroken; undisturbed
A sound sleep.
Compatible with an accepted point of view; orthodox
Sound doctrine.
Thoroughly; deeply
Sound asleep.
Healthy.
He was safe and sound.
In horse management a sound horse is one with no health problems that might affect its suitability for its intended work.
Complete, solid, or secure.
Fred assured me the floorboards were sound.
Having the property of soundness.
Good; acceptable; decent.
How are you? —I'm sound.
That's a sound track you're playing.
See that man over there? He's sound. You should get to know him.
(of sleep) Quiet and deep.
Sound asleep means sleeping peacefully, and often deeply.
Her sleep was sound.
Heavy; laid on with force.
A sound beating
Founded in law; legal; valid; not defective.
A sound title to land
Soundly.
Yes; used to show agreement or understanding, generally without much enthusiasm.
I found my jacket. — Sound.
A sensation perceived by the ear caused by the vibration of air or some other medium.
He turned when he heard the sound of footsteps behind him.
Nobody made a sound.
A vibration capable of causing such sensations.
(music) A distinctive style and sonority of a particular musician, orchestra, &.
Noise without meaning; empty noise.
, distance within which a certain noise may be heard.
Stay within the sound of my voice.
(phonetics) A segment as a part of spoken language, the smallest unit of spoken language, a speech sound.
A long narrow inlet, or a strait between the mainland and an island; also, a strait connecting two seas, or connecting a sea or lake with the ocean.
Puget Sound; Owen Sound; Long Island Sound
The air bladder of a fish.
Cod sounds are an esteemed article of food.
A long, thin probe for sounding or dilating body cavities or canals such as the urethra; a sonde.
(intransitive) To produce a sound.
When the horn sounds, take cover.
(copulative) To convey an impression by one's sound.
He sounded good when we last spoke.
That story sounds like a pack of lies!
(intransitive) To be conveyed in sound; to be spread or published; to convey intelligence by sound.
To resound.
To arise or to be recognizable as arising in or from a particular area of law, or as likely to result in a particular kind of legal remedy.
In my opinion this claim sounds in damages rather than in an injunction.
(transitive) To cause to produce a sound.
Sound the alarm!
He sounds the instrument.
To pronounce.
The "e" in "house" isn't sounded.
(intransitive) Dive downwards, used of a whale.
The whale sounded and eight hundred feet of heavy line streaked out of the line tub before he ended his dive.
To ascertain, or try to ascertain, the thoughts, motives, and purposes of (a person); to examine; to try; to test; to probe.
When I sounded him, he appeared to favor the proposed deal.
Test; ascertain the depth of water with a sounding line or other device.
Mariners on sailing ships would sound the depth of the water with a weighted rope.
(medicine) To examine with the instrument called a sound or sonde, or by auscultation or percussion.
To sound a patient, or the bladder or urethra
The air bladder of a fish; as, cod sounds are an esteemed article of food.
A cuttlefish.
A narrow passage of water, or a strait between the mainland and an island; also, a strait connecting two seas, or connecting a sea or lake with the ocean; as, the Sound between the Baltic and the german Ocean; Long Island Sound.
The Sound of Denmark, where ships pay toll.
Any elongated instrument or probe, usually metallic, by which cavities of the body are sounded or explored, especially the bladder for stone, or the urethra for a stricture.
The peceived object occasioned by the impulse or vibration of a material substance affecting the ear; a sensation or perception of the mind received through the ear, and produced by the impulse or vibration of the air or other medium with which the ear is in contact; the effect of an impression made on the organs of hearing by an impulse or vibration of the air caused by a collision of bodies, or by other means; noise; report; as, the sound of a drum; the sound of the human voice; a horrid sound; a charming sound; a sharp, high, or shrill sound.
The warlike soundOf trumpets loud and clarions.
The occasion of sound; the impulse or vibration which would occasion sound to a percipient if present with unimpaired; hence, the theory of vibrations in elastic media such cause sound; as, a treatise on sound.
Noise without signification; empty noise; noise and nothing else.
Sense and not sound . . . must be the principle.
Whole; unbroken; unharmed; free from flaw, defect, or decay; perfect of the kind; as, sound timber; sound fruit; a sound tooth; a sound ship.
Healthy; not diseased; not being in a morbid state; - said of body or mind; as, a sound body; a sound constitution; a sound understanding.
Firm; strong; safe.
The brasswork here, how rich it is in beams,And how, besides, it makes the whole house sound.
Free from error; correct; right; honest; true; faithful; orthodox; - said of persons; as, a sound lawyer; a sound thinker.
Do not I know you a favorerOf this new seat? Ye are nor sound.
Founded in truth or right; supported by justice; not to be overthrown on refuted; not fallacious; as, sound argument or reasoning; a sound objection; sound doctrine; sound principles.
Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me.
Heavy; laid on with force; as, a sound beating.
Undisturbed; deep; profound; as, sound sleep.
Founded in law; legal; valid; not defective; as, a sound title to land.
Soundly.
So sound he slept that naught might him awake.
To measure the depth of; to fathom; especially, to ascertain the depth of by means of a line and plummet.
Fig.: To ascertain, or try to ascertain, the thoughts, motives, and purposes of (a person); to examine; to try; to test; to probe.
I was in jest,And by that offer meant to sound your breast.
I've sounded my Numidians man by man.
To explore, as the bladder or urethra, with a sound; to examine with a sound; also, to examine by auscultation or percussion; as, to sound a patient.
To ascertain the depth of water with a sounding line or other device.
I sound as a shipman soundeth in the sea with his plummet to know the depth of sea.
To make a noise; to utter a voice; to make an impulse of the air that shall strike the organs of hearing with a perceptible effect.
How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues!
To be conveyed in sound; to be spread or published; to convey intelligence by sound.
From you sounded out the word of the Lord.
To make or convey a certain impression, or to have a certain import, when heard; hence, to seem; to appear; as, this reproof sounds harsh; the story sounds like an invention.
Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fearThings that do sound so fair?
Soun[d]ing in moral virtue was his speech.
To cause to make a noise; to play on; as, to sound a trumpet or a horn; to sound an alarm.
A bagpipe well could he play and soun[d].
To cause to exit as a sound; as, to sound a note with the voice, or on an instrument.
To order, direct, indicate, or proclain by a sound, or sounds; to give a signal for by a certain sound; as, to sound a retreat; to sound a parley.
The clock sounded the hour of noon.
To celebrate or honor by sounds; to cause to be reported; to publish or proclaim; as, to sound the praises of fame of a great man or a great exploit.
To examine the condition of (anything) by causing the same to emit sounds and noting their character; as, to sound a piece of timber; to sound a vase; to sound the lungs of a patient.
To signify; to import; to denote.
Soun[d]ing alway the increase of his winning.
The particular auditory effect produced by a given cause;
The sound of rain on the roof
The beautiful sound of music
The subjective sensation of hearing something;
He strained to hear the faint sounds
Mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium;
Falling trees make a sound in the forest even when no one is there to hear them
The sudden occurrence of an audible event;
The sound awakened them
The audible part of a transmitted signal;
They always raise the audio for commercials
(phonetics) an individual sound unit of speech without concern as to whether or not it is a phoneme of some language
A narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water
A large ocean inlet or deep bay;
The main body of the sound ran parallel to the coast
Appear in a certain way;
This sounds interesting
Make a certain noise or sound;
She went `Mmmmm'
The gun went `bang'
Give off a certain sound or sounds;
This record sounds scratchy
Announce by means of a sound;
Sound the alarm
Utter with vibrating vocal chords
Cause to sound;
Sound the bell
Sound a certain note
Measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line
Financially secure and safe;
Sound investments
A sound economy
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
In good condition; free from defect or damage or decay;
A sound timber
The wall is sound
A sound foundation
In excellent physical condition;
Good teeth
I still have one good leg
A sound mind in a sound body
Reflects weight of sound argument or evidence;
A sound argument
Having legal efficacy or force;
A sound title to the property
Free from moral defect;
A man of sound character
(of sleep) deep and complete;
A heavy sleep
Fell into a profound sleep
A sound sleeper
Deep wakeless sleep
Thorough;
A sound thrashing
Deeply or completely;
Slept soundly through the storm
Is sound asleep
Sound Snonyms
Echo
A sound that is reflected off a surface and heard again.
The echo of our voices filled the cavern.
Tone
A musical or vocal sound with reference to its pitch, quality, and strength.
The violinist's tone was pure and expressive.
Resonance
The quality in a sound of being deep, full, and reverberating.
The resonance of the bass guitar shook the room.
Chime
A melodious ringing sound, as made by bells.
The chime of the grandfather clock marked the hour.
Noise
A sound, especially when loud, discordant, or random.
The noise from the construction site was incessant.
Harmony
The combination of simultaneously sounded musical notes to produce a pleasing effect.
The choir's harmony was beautiful.
Rumble
A deep, heavy, somewhat muffled, continuous sound.
The rumble of thunder warned of the approaching storm.
Vibration
Rapid oscillations of particles in a medium, producing a sound.
The vibration of the strings produced a melodious sound.
Hum
A low, steady continuous sound.
The hum of the refrigerator was comforting in the silent house.
Whisper
A soft, quiet sound made by speaking very quietly or blowing.
The whisper of the wind through the trees was soothing.
Sound Idioms & Phrases
Sound out
To try to discover someone's opinions, ideas, or feelings.
Before making a decision, he sounded out his colleagues.
Sound as a bell
In very good condition; perfectly well.
After the repair, the car was as sound as a bell.
Safe and sound
Secure and unharmed.
They arrived home safe and sound after the trip.
Sound off
To express one's opinions forcefully.
He sounded off about the changes in policy.
On sound footing
In a secure and stable condition.
With the new investment, the company is now on sound footing.
Not sound right
To seem incorrect or untrue.
His explanation doesn't sound right to me.
A sound investment
A wise or prudent investment.
Buying that property was a sound investment.
Sound the alarm
To warn of a danger or problem.
Scientists are sounding the alarm on climate change.
Sound the depths
To explore or investigate thoroughly.
The author sounded the depths of human emotion in her novel.
Make a sound
To produce a noise.
The old floorboards always make a sound when you walk on them.
Sound advice
Wise or sensible advice.
He gave me some sound advice on managing finances.
To the sound of
Accompanied by a particular noise.
They marched to the sound of drums.
Sound asleep
Sleeping deeply.
The baby was sound asleep in her crib.
The sound of silence
The absence of any noise; complete quiet.
At night, the sound of silence in the countryside is profound.
Sound in mind and body
Healthy both mentally and physically.
The wellness program aims to keep employees sound in mind and body.
Sound of music
Refers to music being played or performed.
The sound of music filled the theater.
Within sound of
Close enough to hear something.
They lived within sound of the church bells.
Break the sound barrier
To travel faster than the speed of sound.
The new jet is designed to easily break the sound barrier.
Sound judgment
The ability to make sensible decisions.
Her sound judgment has earned her respect in the industry.
A sound plan
A well-thought-out and reliable plan.
We need a sound plan to tackle the challenges ahead.
Sound Example Sentences
The eerie sound in the night turned out to be just the wind.
The sound of the birds singing woke me up.
The sound technician adjusted the levels to perfect the recording.
They could hear the sound of the waves from their hotel room.
The diver used sonar to sound the depth of the lake.
Her voice had a pleasant sound to it.
His apology didn't sound sincere to me.
They navigated through the sound to reach the open sea.
The room went completely silent, without a sound.
I love the sound of rain on the roof.
The sound of the children playing filled the park.
The sound of laughter is my favorite sound.
The sound of a door closing made her turn around.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called sound?
"Sound" comes from the Old English "sound," related to words meaning to hear or to resound, reflecting its auditory nature.
How many syllables are in sound?
There is one syllable in "sound."
What is the pronunciation of sound?
Sound is pronounced as /saʊnd/.
What is the root word of sound?
The root of "sound" comes from the Old English "gesund," meaning healthy, but its auditory meaning comes from a different Old English word, "sund," related to hearing.
How do we divide sound into syllables?
Sound is a single syllable word, so it is not divided.
How is sound used in a sentence?
The gentle sound of the stream was relaxing.
What is the third form of sound?
The third (past participle) form is also "sounded."
What is a stressed syllable in sound?
As a single syllable word, the entire word "sound" is stressed.
What is the second form of sound?
As a regular verb, the second (past tense) form is "sounded."
What is the singular form of sound?
The singular form is "sound," referring to a single instance or type of sound.
What is the plural form of sound?
The plural form is "sounds," referring to multiple instances or types of sounds.
What is another term for sound?
Another term for sound (as an auditory experience) is "audio."
What is the verb form of sound?
"Sound" itself is both a noun and a verb; as a verb, it can mean to make noise or to measure depth.
What is the first form of sound?
The first (base) form is "sound."
What part of speech is sound?
"Sound" can be a noun, a verb, or an adjective (e.g., sound advice).
Is sound a noun or adjective?
"Sound" can be both a noun and an adjective, depending on usage.
Is the sound term a metaphor?
"Sound" can be used metaphorically in expressions like "sound advice" meaning solid or reliable advice.
What is the opposite of sound?
The opposite of sound (as a noun) can be silence; as an adjective, unsound.
Is the word sound imperative?
"Sound" can be used in the imperative mood as a command, e.g., "Sound the alarm."
Which conjunction is used with sound?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with "sound" in compound sentences.
Which article is used with sound?
The indefinite article "a" or the definite article "the" can be used with "sound" depending on specificity (a sound, the sound).
Is sound an adverb?
No, "sound" is not an adverb.
Is sound a negative or positive word?
"Sound" is neutral; its connotation depends on context.
Is sound a countable noun?
Yes, "sound" can be a countable noun when referring to specific noises or types of sounds.
Is sound a collective noun?
No, "sound" is not typically used as a collective noun.
Is the word sound Gerund?
When used as a gerund (sounding), it acts as a noun, e.g., "The sounding of the horn signaled the end."
Is sound an abstract noun?
No, "sound" is a concrete noun as it refers to something that can be heard.
Is sound a vowel or consonant?
The word "sound" starts with a consonant.
Is the word “sound” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Sound" can serve as a direct object, e.g., "He made a sound," but not as an indirect object.
Which determiner is used with sound?
Determiners like "a," "the," or "that" can be used with "sound" depending on the context.
Which vowel is used before sound?
A vowel sound is used before "sound" when an indefinite article is needed, leading to the use of "a" (a sound).
Which preposition is used with sound?
Prepositions like "of" (sound of) or "in" (in sound) are commonly used with "sound."
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
