sound

sound¹ W1S1 [saund] n

[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: son, from Latin sonus]

1.) [U and C]

something that you hear, or what can be heard

= ↑noise

▪ There were strange sounds coming from the next room.

sound of

▪ She could hear the sound of voices.

▪ the distant sound of rushing water

banging/barking/tearing etc sound

▪ Did you just hear a rattling sound outside?

▪ Light travels faster than sound.

▪ a vowel sound

not make a sound

(=be completely quiet)

2.) [U]

a) the sound produced by a television or radio programme, a film etc

▪ We apologize for the loss of sound during that report.

▪ a sound engineer

b) the loudness of a television, radio, film etc

= ↑volume

turn the sound down/up

▪ Turn the sound down a little, will you?

3.) [C usually singular, U]

the particular quality that a singer's or group's music has

▪ We're trying to develop a harder, funkier sound.

4.) by/from the sound of it/things

judging from what you have heard or read about something

▪ By the sound of it, things are worse than we thought.

5.) not like the sound of sth

to feel worried by something that you have heard or read

▪ 'There's been a slight change in our plans.' 'I don't like the sound of that.'

6.) sounds [plural] BrE informal songs or music that are on a record, ↑CD, or tape

▪ I need to buy some new sounds.

7.) [C usually singular]

a narrow area of water that connects two larger areas of water

sound ²

sound² W2S1 v

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

1¦(seem)¦

2¦(noise)¦

3¦(voice)¦

4¦(warning)¦

5¦(make a noise)¦

6¦(pronounce)¦

7¦(measure depth)¦

Phrasal verbs

　sound off

　sound somebody/something<=>out

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

[Sense: 1-5; Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: soner, from Latin sonare, from sonus; SOUND¹]

[Sense: 7; Date: 1300-1400; : Old French; Origin: sonder, from sonde 'line for measuring the depth of water']

1.) ¦(SEEM)¦ [linking verb]

if something or someone sounds good, bad, strange etc, that is how they seem to you when you hear about them or read about them

sound adj

▪ Istanbul sounds really exciting.

▪ The whole story sounded very odd.

▪ $80 sounds about right for a decent hotel room.

sound noun BrE

▪ That sounds a good idea.

sound like

▪ Nick sounds like a nice guy.

it sounds as if/as though

▪ It sounds to me as if he needs professional help.

it sounds like informal

▪ It sounds like you had a good time on your trip.

▪ I'll come over to Richmond and take you out for dinner. How does that sound? (=used to ask someone what they think of your suggestion)

▪ faraway places with strange-sounding names

2.) ¦(NOISE)¦ [linking verb]

if a noise sounds like a particular thing, that is how it seems to you when you hear it

sound like

▪ To Thomas, her laugh sounded horribly like a growl.

▪ I heard what sounded like fireworks.

sound adj

▪ Her breathing sounded very loud.

(it) sounds as if/as though

▪ The banging sounded as if it was coming from next door.

(it) sounds like informal

▪ It sounds like the dog wants to be let out.

3.) ¦(VOICE)¦ [linking verb]

if someone sounds tired, happy, sad etc, that is how they seem to you when you hear their voice

sound adj

▪ Are you okay? You sound tired.

▪ Josie didn't sound very keen when I spoke to her.

▪ Her voice sounded very young.

sound as if/as though

▪ You sound as if you've got a cold.

sound like informal

▪ She sounded like she'd been crying.

sound like

▪ You sound just like my mother (=the things you say, opinions you express etc are just like the things my mother says) .

see usage note ↑seem

4.) ¦(WARNING)¦ [T]

to publicly give a warning or tell people to be careful

▪ Several earlier studies had sounded similar warnings .

sound a note of caution/warning

▪ I would, however, sound a note of caution.

▪ Now it is an American economist who is sounding the alarm .

5.) ¦(MAKE A NOISE)¦ [I and T]

if something such as a horn or bell sounds, or if you sound it, it makes a noise

▪ The bell sounded for dinner.

▪ Sound your horn to warn other drivers.

▪ She was unable to sound the alarm .

6.) ¦(PRONOUNCE)¦ [T usually passive]

technical to make the sound of a letter in a word

▪ The 's' in 'island' is not sounded.

7.) ¦(MEASURE DEPTH)¦ [T]

technical to measure the depth of the sea, a lake etc

→↑soundings

sound off phr v

1.) informal to express strong opinions about something, especially when you complain angrily in a way that other people find rude or boring

sound off about

▪ She's always sounding off about too much sex in the media.

▪ He should check his facts before sounding off.

2.) AmE if soldiers sound off, they shout out numbers or their names to show that they are there

sound out [sound sb/sth<=>out] phr v

to talk to someone in order to find out what they think about a plan or idea

▪ He sounded people out and found the responses favourable.

▪ They want to sound out his opinion before they approach him formally.

sound somebody/something<=>out about

▪ I wanted to sound her out about a job.

sound ³

sound³ W3 adj

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

1¦(well-judged)¦

2¦(person)¦

3¦(thorough)¦

4¦(in good condition)¦

5¦(healthy)¦

6¦(sleep)¦

▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

[: Old English; Origin: gesund]

1.) ¦(WELL-JUDGED)¦

sensible and likely to produce the right results

≠ ↑poor

▪ The book is full of sound advice.

▪ a man of great integrity and sound judgement

ecologically/ideologically/theoretically etc sound

▪ environmentally sound farming practices

▪ a sound investment

2.) ¦(PERSON)¦

BrE

a) someone who is sound can be depended on to make good decisions and give good advice

sound on

▪ He's very sound on matters of law.

b) informal someone who is sound is a good person and can be trusted - used especially by young people

▪ My mum's sound. She'd never throw me out.

3.) ¦(THOROUGH)¦ [only before noun]

complete and thorough

▪ a sound understanding of money and banking systems

▪ a sound knowledge of English

▪ He has sound grasp of European history.

4.) ¦(IN GOOD CONDITION)¦

in good condition and not damaged in any way

≠ ↑unsound

▪ The floor was completely sound.

▪ Is the building structurally sound?

sound as a bell

BrE spoken (=in perfect condition)

5.) ¦(HEALTHY)¦

physically or mentally healthy

≠ ↑unsound

of sound mind

law (=not mentally ill)

sound as a bell

BrE spoken (=in perfect health)

6.) ¦(SLEEP)¦

sound sleep is deep and peaceful

sound sleeper

(=someone who always sleeps well)

>soundness n [U]

sound ⁴

sound⁴ adv

sound asleep

deeply asleep

▪ The baby was sound asleep.