sound

adj
/ˈsaʊ̯nd/US/ˈsæʊ̯nd/

Etymology

From Middle English sound, sund, isund, ȝesund, from Old English sund (“sound, safe, whole, uninjured, healthy, prosperous”), from Proto-West Germanic *sund, from Proto-Germanic *sundaz (“healthy”), merged with synonymous Old English ġesund, from Proto-West Germanic *gasund. Cognate with Scots sound, soun (“healthy, sound”), Saterland Frisian suund, gesuund (“healthy”), West Frisian sûn (“healthy”), Dutch gezond (“healthy, sound”), Low German sund, gesund (“healthy”), German gesund (“healthy, sound”), Danish sund (“healthy”), Swedish sund (“sound, healthy”). Possibly related also to Dutch gezwind (“fast, quick”), German geschwind (“fast, quick”), Old English swīþ (“strong, mighty, powerful, active, severe, violent”). See swith.

  1. derived from sonō
  2. derived from soner
  3. derived from suner
  4. inherited from sownden
  5. derived from *swenh₂-
  6. derived from sonus
  7. derived from son
  8. derived from sun
  9. inherited from sownde

Definitions

  1. 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.
  2. Complete, solid, or secure.

    • Fred assured me the floorboards were sound.
    • The brasswork here, how rich it is in beams, / And how, besides, it makes the whole house sound.
    • Refurbishing Okehampton station, kept basically sound under ownership by Devon Council, remains a work in progress and scheduled for completion next spring.
  3. Having the property of soundness.

  4. + 28 more definitions
    1. Good

      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.
    2. Quiet and deep.

      • Sound asleep means sleeping peacefully, and often deeply.
      • Her sleep was sound.
      • a sound night’s sleep
    3. Heavy

      Heavy; laid on with force.

      • a sound beating
    4. Founded in law

      Founded in law; legal; valid; not defective.

      • a sound title to land
    5. Soundly.

      • So ſound he ſlept, that nought mought him awake.
    6. Yes

      Yes; used to show agreement or understanding.

      • I found my jacket. — Sound.
    7. 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.
      • The warlike sound / Of trumpets loud and clarions.
      • Through all the Worlds are sounds, the noises of moving, and the echoes of voices and song; but upon the River is no sound ever heard, for there all echoes die.
    8. A vibration capable of causing such sensations.

    9. A distinctive style and sonority of a particular musician, orchestra etc.

      • He looks like he's got it, maybe. Listen to those kids!/There's no maybe about it. That's it, that's the sound.
    10. Noise without meaning

      Noise without meaning; empty noise.

      • For let us conſider this Prepoſition as to its meaning, (for it is the ſence, and not ſound, that is and muſt be the Principle or common Notion) […]
    11. Earshot, distance within which a certain noise may be heard.

      • Stay within the sound of my voice.
    12. A segment as a part of spoken language, the smallest unit of spoken language, a speech…

      A segment as a part of spoken language, the smallest unit of spoken language, a speech sound.

    13. To produce a sound.

      • When the horn sounds, take cover.
    14. To convey an impression by one's sound.

      • He sounded good when we last spoke.
      • That story sounds like a pack of lies!
      • How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues!
    15. To be conveyed in sound

      To be conveyed in sound; to be spread or published; to convey intelligence by sound.

      • For from you ſounded out the worde of the Lord, not in Macedonia & in Achaia onely: but your faith alſo which is towarde God, ſpred abroade in all quarters, that we nede not to ſpeake any thing.
    16. To resound.

    17. To arise or to be recognizable as arising in or from a particular area of law, or as…

      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.
      • […]there can be no doubt that claims brought pursuant to § 1983 sound in tort.
    18. To cause to produce a sound.

      • Sound the alarm!
      • He sounds the instrument.
      • If a train enters the forward section before its description has been transmitted, a "not described" lamp is illuminated on the transmitter, an alarm buzzer is sounded, and the lamp remains alight until a description has been transmitted.
    19. To pronounce.

      • The "e" in "house" isn't sounded.
    20. A long narrow inlet, or a strait between the mainland and an island

      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 Sound of Denmarke, where ships pay toll.
    21. The air bladder of a fish.

      • Cod sounds are an esteemed article of food.
      • The head was chopped off, the belly opened, the liver set aside--sometimes along with the roe, sounds, throats, and other items.
    22. Of a whale, to dive downwards.

      • The whale sounded and eight hundred feet of heavy line streaked out of the line tub before he ended his dive.
    23. To ascertain, or to try to ascertain, the thoughts, motives, and purposes of (a person)

      To ascertain, or to 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.
      • Tell me moreouer, haſt thou ſounded him,/If he appeale the Duke on ancient malice,/Or worthily as a good ſubiect ſhould/On ſome knowne ground of treacherie in him.
      • I was in Jeſt: / And by that offer meant to ſound your breaſt.
    24. To fathom or test

      To fathom or test; to 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.
      • As when the Sea-man […]/All fearefull foldes his ſailes, and ſounds the maine,/Lifting his prayers to the heauens for aid,/Againſt the terrour of the winds and waues.
    25. To examine with the instrument called a sound or sonde, or by auscultation or percussion.

      • to sound a patient, or the bladder or urethra
    26. A long, thin probe for sounding or dilating body cavities or canals such as the urethra

      A long, thin probe for sounding or dilating body cavities or canals such as the urethra; a sonde.

      • Most mild cases respond very nicely to such relatively simple office procedures as dilatations with sounds of increasing calibre, followed by the instillation of an ounce of 5 per cent argyrol in the bladder.
    27. The strait that separates Zealand (an island of Denmark) from Scania (part of Sweden)

      The strait that separates Zealand (an island of Denmark) from Scania (part of Sweden); also sometimes called by the Danish name, Øresund.

    28. Synonym of Plymouth Sound, Devon, England.

The neighborhood

Vish — recursive loop

No curated loop yet for sound. Loops are being traced one word at a time while the ingestion pipeline matures.

sense glosses and etymology drawn from English Wiktionary · source · CC-BY-SA