sound

comparative sounder · superlative soundest · alternative obsolete soune · alternative obsolete sownd · alternative obsolete sowne

1. Healthy.

   He was safe and sound.

   2 more examples

   In horse management a sound horse is one with no health problems that might affect its suitability for its intended work.

   on the 29th of September 1840, in consideration that the plaintiff, at the request of the defendant, had bought of the defendant a certain horse, at a certain price, to wit, 30l., the defendant promised plaintiff that the horse did not exceed five years off, and that it was sound in wind and limb, perfect in vision, and free from vice; […]

   1842 May 30, “Roscorla v. Thomas”, in Montagu[e] Chambers, editor, The Law Journal Reports for the Year 1842, volumes XX (New Series – volume XI, part II), London: E. B. Ince, 5 Quality Court, Chancery Lane, →OCLC, pages 214–215

2. Complete, solid, or secure.

   Fred assured me the floorboards were sound.

   2 more examples

   The brasswork here, how rich it is in beams, / And how, besides, it makes the whole house sound.

   1614–1615, Homer, “(please specify the book number)”, in Geo[rge] Chapman, transl., Homer’s Odysses. […], London: […] Rich[ard] Field [and William Jaggard], for Nathaniell Butter, published 1615, →OCLC; republished in The Odysseys of Homer, […], volume (please specify the book number), London: John Russell Smith, […], 1857, →OCLC

   Refurbishing Okehampton station, kept basically sound under ownership by Devon Council, remains a work in progress and scheduled for completion next spring.

   2021 November 17, Andrew Mourant, “Okehampton: a new dawn for Dartmoor”, in Rail, number 944, page 43

3. human sciencesHaving the property of soundness.

   1 more example

   With fresh material, taxonomic conclusions are leavened by recognition that the material examined reflects the site it occupied; a herbarium packet gives one only a small fraction of the data desirable for sound conclusions. Herbarium material does not, indeed, allow one to extrapolate safely: what you see is what you get[…]

   1992, Rudolf M[athias] Schuster, The Hepaticae and Anthocerotae of North America: East of the Hundredth Meridian, volume V, Chicago, Ill.: Field Museum of Natural History, →ISBN, page vii

4. IrelandUKslangGood; acceptable; decent.

   How are you? —I'm sound.

   2 more examples

   That's a sound track you're playing.

   See that man over there? He's sound. You should get to know him.

5. Quiet and deep.

   Her sleep was sound.

   2 more examples

   Sound asleep means sleeping peacefully, and often deeply.

   a sound night’s sleep

6. Heavy; laid on with force.

   a sound beating

7. Founded in law; legal; valid; not defective.

   a sound title to land

comparative more sound · superlative most sound · alternative obsolete soune · alternative obsolete sownd · alternative obsolete sowne

1. Soundly.

   So ſound he ſlept, that nought mought him awake.

   1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book I, Canto I”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC, stanza 42

alternative obsolete soune · alternative obsolete sownd · alternative obsolete sowne

1. IrelandUKslangYes; used to show agreement or understanding.

   I found my jacket. — Sound.

plural sounds · alternative obsolete soune · alternative obsolete sownd · alternative obsolete sowne

1. countableuncountableA 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.

   2 more examples

   The warlike sound / Of trumpets loud and clarions.

   1667, John Milton, “Book I”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC

   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.

   1905, Lord Dunsany [i.e., Edward Plunkett, 18th Baron of Dunsany], The Gods of Pegāna, London: [Charles] Elkin Mathews, […], →OCLC, page 88

2. countableuncountableA vibration capable of causing such sensations.

   It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street.[…]. He halted opposite the Privy Gardens, and, with his face turned skywards, listened until the sound of the Tower guns smote again on the ear and dispelled his doubts.

   1906, Stanley J[ohn] Weyman, chapter I, in Chippinge Borough, New York, N.Y.: McClure, Phillips & Co., →OCLC, page 01

   1 more example

   In trumpets for assisting the hearing, all reverbation of the trumpet must be avoided. It must be made thick, of the least elastic materials, and covered with cloth externally. For all reverbation lasts for a short time, and produces new sounds which mix with those which are coming in.

   1820, Encyclopaedia Britannica; Or A Dictionary of Arts, Sciences, and Miscellaneous Literature, 6th edition, volume 20, Edinburgh: Archibald Constable and Company, page 501

3. countableuncountableentertainmentA 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.

   1954, Valentine Davies et al., The Glenn Miller Story

4. countableuncountableNoise 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) […]

   1689 (indicated as 1690), [John Locke], “Of Power”, in An Essay Concerning Humane Understanding. […], London: […] Eliz[abeth] Holt, for Thomas Basset, […], →OCLC, book I, § 18, page 23

5. countableuncountableEarshot, distance within which a certain noise may be heard.

   Stay within the sound of my voice.

6. countableuncountablehuman sciencesA segment as a part of spoken language, the smallest unit of spoken language, a speech sound.

present singular third person sounds · participle present sounding · participle past sounded · past sounded · alternative obsolete soune · alternative obsolete sownd · alternative obsolete sowne

1. intransitiveTo produce a sound.

   When the horn sounds, take cover.

2. copulativeTo convey an impression by one's sound.

   He sounded good when we last spoke.

   2 more examples

   That story sounds like a pack of lies!

   How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues!

   c. 1591–1595 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Romeo and Ivliet”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene ii]

3. intransitiveTo 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.

   1560, [William Whittingham et al., transl.], The Bible and Holy Scriptures Conteyned in the Olde and Newe Testament. […] (the Geneva Bible), Geneva: […] Rouland Hall, →OCLC, I. Thessalonians I:8, folio 95, recto

4. intransitiveobsoleteTo resound.
5. intransitiveoftenlawTo 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.

   1 more example

   […]there can be no doubt that claims brought pursuant to § 1983 sound in tort.

   1999, Supreme Court of the United States, City of Monterey v. Del Monte Dunes at Montery, Ltd. et al.

6. transitiveTo cause to produce a sound.

   Sound the alarm!

   2 more examples

   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.

   1955 March, “Train Describers at Euston”, in Railway Magazine, page 170

7. transitivehuman sciencesTo pronounce.

   The "e" in "house" isn't sounded.

plural sounds · alternative obsolete soune · alternative obsolete sownd · alternative obsolete sowne

1. geographyA 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

   1 more example

   The Sound of Denmarke, where ships pay toll.

   1605, M. N. [pseudonym; William Camden], Remaines of a Greater Worke, Concerning Britaine, […], London: […] G[eorge] E[ld] for Simon Waterson, →OCLC

2. The air bladder of a fish.

   Cod sounds are an esteemed article of food.

   1 more example

   The head was chopped off, the belly opened, the liver set aside--sometimes along with the roe, sounds, throats, and other items.

   1997, Mark Kurlansky, Cod, page 118

present singular third person sounds · participle present sounding · participle past sounded · past sounded · alternative obsolete soune · alternative obsolete sownd · alternative obsolete sowne

1. intransitiveOf 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.

2. 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.

   3 more examples

   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.

   1595 December 9 (first known performance), William Shakespeare, “The Life and Death of King Richard the Second”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies: Published According to the True Originall Copies (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene i], page 23, column 1

   I was in Jeſt: / And by that offer meant to ſound your breaſt.

   1665 (first performance), John Dryden, The Indian Emperour, or, The Conquest of Mexico by the Spaniards. […], London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman […], published 1667, →OCLC, Act IV, scene [i], page 40

   I've sounded my Numidians man by man.

   1712 (date written), [Joseph] Addison, Cato, a Tragedy. […], London: […] J[acob] Tonson, […], published 1713, →OCLC, Act I, scene iii, page 6

3. 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.

   1 more example

   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.

   c. 1587–1588 (date written), [Christopher Marlowe], Tamburlaine the Great. […] The First Part […], 2nd edition, part 1, London: […] [R. Robinson for] Richard Iones, […], published 1592, →OCLC; reprinted as Tamburlaine the Great (A Scolar Press Facsimile), Menston, Yorkshire; London: Scolar Press, 1973, →ISBN, Act III, scene ii

4. medicineTo examine with the instrument called a sound or sonde, or by auscultation or percussion.

   to sound a patient, or the bladder or urethra

plural sounds · alternative obsolete soune · alternative obsolete sownd · alternative obsolete sowne

1. medicineA 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.

   1951 January, Gordon W. Reynolds, “The Female Urethra and Chronic Urethritis”, in Northwest Medicine, volume 50, number 1, Portland, Ore.: Northwest Medical Publishing Association, page 34

1. The strait that separates Zealand (an island of Denmark) from Scania (part of Sweden); also sometimes called by the Danish name, Øresund.
2. Synonym of Plymouth Sound, Devon, England.

   Synonyms: Plymouth Sound, Devon, England