First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1sound
adjective \ˈsau̇nd\
: in good condition : solid and strong
: in good health
: free from mistakes : showing good judgment
Full Definition of SOUND
1
a : free from injury or disease b : free from flaw, defect, or decay
3
a : free from error, fallacy, or misapprehension <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 e : agreeing with accepted views : orthodox
5
: showing good judgment or sense <sound advice>
— sound·ly \ˈsau̇n(d)-lē\ adverb
— sound·ness \ˈsau̇n(d)-nəs\ noun
See sound defined for English-language learners
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Origin of SOUND
Middle English, from Old English gesund; akin to Old High German gisunt healthy
Related to SOUND
- Synonyms
- analytic (or analytical), coherent, consequent, good, rational, reasonable, sensible, logical, valid, well-founded, well-grounded
- Antonyms
- illegitimate, illogical, incoherent, inconsequent, inconsequential, invalid, irrational, unreasonable, unsound, weak
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>.
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>.
2sound
adverb
of sleep : deeply and completely
Full Definition of SOUND
: to the full extent : thoroughly <sound asleep>
See sound defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of SOUND
14th century
3sound
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 (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>
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 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
First Known Use: 13th century
4sound
verb
Definition of SOUND
transitive verb1
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
2
: to make or convey an impression especially when heard <it sounds good to me> <you sound just like your mother>
— sound·able \ˈsau̇n-də-bəl\ adjective
First Known Use of SOUND
13th century
5sound
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 (as a sea with the ocean) or separating a mainland and an island
2
: the air bladder of a fish
Origin of SOUND
Middle English, from Old English sund swimming, sea & Old Norse sund swimming, strait; akin to Old English swimman to swim
First Known Use: 14th century
Other Oceanography Terms
6sound
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 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
First Known Use: 15th century
7sound
noun
Definition of SOUND
: an elongated instrument for exploring or sounding body cavities
Origin of SOUND
French sonde, from Middle French, literally, sounding line
First Known Use: 1739
SOUNDNESS Defined for Kids
1sound
adjective \ˈsau̇nd\
sound·ersound·est
Definition of SOUND for Kids
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>
— sound·ly adverb <sleep soundly>
— sound·ness noun <soundness of mind>
2sound
adverb
Definition of SOUND for Kids
: to the full extent <sound asleep>
3sound
noun
Definition of SOUND for Kids
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.>
— sound·less \ˈsau̇nd-ləs\ adjective
— sound·less·ly 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.
4sound
verb
sound·edsound·ing
Definition of SOUND for Kids
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.>
5sound
noun
Definition of SOUND for Kids
: 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
6sound
verb
soundedsounding
Definition of SOUND for Kids
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.>
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