sound

adjective \ ˈsau̇nd \

Definition of sound

1 a : free from injury or disease

of sound mind

b : free from flaw, defect, or decay

sound timber

2 a : solid, firm

sound construction

b : stable

a sound economy

; also : secure, reliable

sound investments

3 a : free from error, fallacy, or misapprehension

sound advice

sound reasoning

b : exhibiting or based on thorough knowledge and experience

sound scholarship

c : legally valid

a sound title

d : logically valid and having true premises

a sound estimate

e : agreeing with accepted views : orthodox

sound doctrine

4 a : thorough

a sound recovery

b : deep and undisturbed

a sound sleep

c : hard, severe

a sound whipping

5 : showing good judgment or sense

a sound advisor

—

soundly

play \ˈsau̇n(d)-lē\ adverb

—

soundness

play \ˈsau̇n(d)-nəs\ noun

See sound defined for English-language learners

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sound was our Word of the Day on 06/05/2014. Hear the podcast!

Examples of sound in a Sentence

a building of sound construction
The bridge is structurally sound.
a sound mind in a sound body
The tests show that his heart is sound.
She used sound reasoning in making the decision.
She gave us some sound advice.
She has a sound understanding of the system's structure.
The stock market has made a sound recovery.

Did You Know?

English contains several sound homographs, all with distinct histories. For example, the sound that means "something heard" descends from Latin sonus ("sound"), whereas the sound that means "to measure the depth of water" traces to Old French sonde ("sounding line"). Another sound, however, is the contemporary form of Old English's gesund. Gesund is related to several words in other languages, such as Old Saxon gisund ("sound"), Old Frisian sund ("fresh, unharmed, healthy"), and Gothic swinths ("sound" or "healthy"). Another relative is Old High German's gisunt ("healthy"), which led to modern German's gesund, the root of gesundheit.

Origin and Etymology of sound

Middle English, from Old English gesund; akin to Old High German gisunt healthy

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First Known Use: 13th century

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sound Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of sound

healthy, sound, wholesome, robust, hale, well mean enjoying or indicative of good health. healthy implies full strength and vigor as well as freedom from signs of disease.

- a healthy family

sound emphasizes the absence of disease, weakness, or malfunction.

- a sound heart

wholesome implies appearance and behavior indicating soundness and balance.

- a face with a wholesome glow

robust implies the opposite of all that is delicate or sickly.

- a lively, robust little boy

hale applies particularly to robustness in old age.

- still hale at the age of eighty

well implies merely freedom from disease or illness.

- she has never been a well person

valid, sound, cogent, convincing, telling mean having such force as to compel serious attention and usually acceptance. valid implies being supported by objective truth or generally accepted authority.

- a valid reason for being absent
- a valid marriage

sound implies a basis of flawless reasoning or of solid grounds.

- a sound proposal for reviving the economy

cogent may stress either weight of sound argument and evidence or lucidity of presentation.

- the prosecutor's cogent summation won over the jury

convincing suggests a power to overcome doubt, opposition, or reluctance to accept.

- a convincing argument for welfare reform

telling stresses an immediate and crucial effect striking at the heart of a matter.

- a telling example of bureaucratic waste

sound

adverb

Definition of sound

: to the full extent : thoroughly

sound asleep

See sound defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of sound

14th century

sound

noun

Definition of sound

1 a : a particular auditory impression : tone

b : the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing

c : mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (such as air) and is the objective cause of hearing

2 a : a speech sound

a peculiar r-sound

b : value in terms of speech sounds

-cher of teacher and -ture of creature have the same sound

3 archaic : rumor, fame

4 a : meaningless noise

b obsolete : meaning

c : the impression conveyed : import

5 : hearing distance : earshot

within sound of your voice

6 : recorded auditory material

7 : a particular musical style characteristic of an individual, a group, or an area

the Nashville sound

Origin and Etymology of sound

Middle English soun, from Anglo-French son, sun, from Latin sonus, from sonare to sound; akin to Old English swinn melody, Sanskrit svanati it sounds

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First Known Use: 13th century

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sound

verb

Definition of sound

transitive verb

1 a : to cause to sound

sound a trumpet

b : pronounce 3a

2 : to put into words : voice

3 a : to make known : proclaim

b : to order, signal, or indicate by a sound

sound the alarm

4 : to examine by causing to emit sounds

sound the lungs

5 chiefly British : to convey the impression of : sound like

that sounds a logical use of resources
—Economist

intransitive verb

1 a : to make a sound

b : resound

c : to give a summons by sound

the bugle sounds to battle

2 : to make or convey an impression especially when heard

it sounds good to me

you sound just like your mother

—

soundable

play \ˈsau̇n-də-bəl\ adjective

First Known Use of sound

13th century

sound

noun

Definition of sound

1 a : a long broad inlet of the ocean generally parallel to the coast

b : a long passage of water connecting two larger bodies (such as a sea with the ocean) or separating a mainland and an island

2 : the air bladder of a fish

Origin and Etymology of sound

Middle English, from Old English sund swimming, sea & Old Norse sund swimming, strait; akin to Old English swimman to swim

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First Known Use: 14th century

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Other Oceanography Terms

littoral

sound

verb

Definition of sound

transitive verb

1 : to measure the depth of : fathom

2 : to try to find out the views or intentions of : probe —often used with out

3 : to explore or examine (a body cavity) with a sound

intransitive verb

1 a : to ascertain the depth of water especially with a sounding line

b : to look into or investigate the possibility

sent commissioners … to sound for peace
—Thomas Jefferson

2 : to dive down suddenly —used of a fish or whale

Origin and Etymology of sound

Middle English, from Middle French sonder, from Old French *sonde sounding line, probably from Old English or Middle English sund- (as in Old English sundlīne sounding line) from sund sea

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

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sound

noun

Definition of sound

: an elongated instrument for exploring or sounding body cavities

Origin and Etymology of sound

French sonde, from Middle French, literally, sounding line

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First Known Use: 1739

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SOUND Defined for English Language Learners

sound

adjective

Definition of sound for English Language Learners

: in good condition : solid and strong
: in good health
: free from mistakes : showing good judgment

sound

adverb

Definition of sound for English Language Learners

of sleep : deeply and completely

SOUND Defined for Kids

sound

adjective \ ˈsau̇nd \

Definition of sound for Students

sounder; soundest

1 : free from disease or weakness : healthy

a sound mind and body

2 : solid and strong

a building of sound construction

3 : free from error

a sound argument

sound beliefs

4 : showing good sense : wise

sound advice

5 : severe 2

a sound whipping

6 : deep and undisturbed

a sound sleep

—

soundly

adverb

sleep soundly

—

soundness

noun

soundness of mind

sound

adverb

Definition of sound for Students

: to the full extent

sound asleep

sound

noun

Definition of sound for Students

1 : the sensation experienced through the sense of hearing : an instance or occurrence of this

the sound of laughter

2 : one of the noises that together make up human speech

the sound of “s” in “sit”

3 : the suggestion carried or given by something heard or read

The excuse had a suspicious sound.

4 : hearing distance : earshot

They are still within the sound of my voice.

—

soundless

\ˈsau̇nd-ləs\ adjective

—

soundlessly

adverb

Word Root of sound

The Latin word sonāre, meaning “to make a noise,” gives us the root son. Words from the Latin sonāre have something to do with making noise. A sound is a noise made by someone or something. Something sonic uses the waves noises make as they travel through the air. A sonata is a musical piece in which only one instrument makes noise. To resound is to become filled with noise.

sound

verb

Definition of sound for Students

sounded; sounding

1 : to make or cause to make a sound or noise

sound a trumpet

The buzzer sounded.

2 : pronounce 1

Sound each word clearly.

3 : to order, signal, or indicate by a sound

Sound the alarm!

The clock sounded noon.

4 : to make known : proclaim

sound praises

5 : to make or give an impression especially when heard

It sounds too good to be true.

The story sounds false.

sound

noun

Definition of sound for Students

: a long stretch of water that is wider than a strait and often connects two larger bodies of water or forms a channel between the mainland and an island

sound

verb

Definition of sound for Students

sounded; sounding

1 : to measure the depth of (as by a weighted line dropped down from the surface)

2 : to try to find out the views or intentions of a person

I sounded them out on the idea.

Medical Dictionary

sound

adjective \ ˈsau̇nd \

medical Definition of sound

1 : free from injury or disease : exhibiting normal health

2 : deep and undisturbed

a sound sleep

—

soundness

noun

sound

noun

medical Definition of sound

1 : a particular auditory impression

heart sounds heard by auscultation

2 : the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing

3 : mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (as air) and is the objective cause of hearing

sound

transitive verb

medical Definition of sound

: to explore or examine (a body cavity) with a sound

sound

noun

medical Definition of sound

: an elongated instrument for exploring or examining body cavities

a uterine sound

Law Dictionary

sound

adjective

legal Definition of sound

1 a : free from injury or disease : exhibiting normal health

b : free from flaw, defect, or decay

a sound design

2 a : free from error, fallacy, or misapprehension

based on sound judicial reasoning

b : legally valid

a sound title

3 : showing good judgment or sense

—

soundly

adverb

—

soundness

noun

— of sound mind

: having the mental capacity to make a will especially as demonstrated by the ability to understand the nature of one's property, identify the natural objects of one's bounty, and understand the nature of the dispositions being made in the will

sound

intransitive verb

legal Definition of sound

: to be based or founded : have a specified basis for an action —used with in

those remedies for rent which sounded in contract
—O. W. Holmes, Jr.

Learn More about sound

See words that rhyme with sound Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sound Spanish Central: Translation of sound Nglish: Translation of sound for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of sound for Arabic speakers

Seen and Heard

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show

sound

Definition of sound

soundly

soundness

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sound was our Word of the Day on 06/05/2014. Hear the podcast!

Examples of sound in a Sentence

Did You Know?

Origin and Etymology of sound

sound Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of sound

sound

Definition of sound

First Known Use of sound

sound

Definition of sound

Origin and Etymology of sound

sound

Definition of sound

soundable

First Known Use of sound

sound

Definition of sound

Origin and Etymology of sound

Other Oceanography Terms

sound

Definition of sound

Origin and Etymology of sound

sound

Definition of sound

Origin and Etymology of sound

SOUND Defined for English Language Learners

sound

Definition of sound for English Language Learners

sound

Definition of sound for English Language Learners

SOUND Defined for Kids

sound

Definition of sound for Students

soundly

soundness

sound

Definition of sound for Students

sound

Definition of sound for Students

soundless

soundlessly

Word Root of sound

sound

Definition of sound for Students

sound

Definition of sound for Students

sound

Definition of sound for Students

Medical Dictionary

sound

medical Definition of sound

soundness

sound

medical Definition of sound

sound

medical Definition of sound

sound

medical Definition of sound

Law Dictionary

sound

legal Definition of sound

soundly

soundness

sound

legal Definition of sound

Learn More about sound

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