1. the particular auditory effect produced by a given cause; - Example: "the sound of rain on the roof" - Example: "the beautiful sound of music"
2. the subjective sensation of hearing something; - Example: "he strained to hear the faint sounds" [syn: sound, auditory sensation]
3. mechanical vibrations transmitted by an elastic medium; - Example: "falling trees make a sound in the forest even when no one is there to hear them"
4. the sudden occurrence of an audible event; - Example: "the sound awakened them"
5. the audible part of a transmitted signal; - Example: "they always raise the audio for commercials" [syn: audio, sound]
6. (phonetics) an individual sound unit of speech without concern as to whether or not it is a phoneme of some language; [syn: phone, speech sound, sound]
7. a narrow channel of the sea joining two larger bodies of water; [syn: strait, sound]
8. a large ocean inlet or deep bay; - Example: "the main body of the sound ran parallel to the coast"
VERB (7)
1. appear in a certain way; - Example: "This sounds interesting"
2. make a certain noise or sound; - Example: "She went `Mmmmm'" - Example: "The gun went `bang'" [syn: sound, go]
3. give off a certain sound or sounds; - Example: "This record sounds scratchy"
4. announce by means of a sound; - Example: "sound the alarm"
6. cause to sound; - Example: "sound the bell" - Example: "sound a certain note"
7. measure the depth of (a body of water) with a sounding line; [syn: fathom, sound]
ADJECTIVE (9)
1. financially secure and safe; - Example: "sound investments" - Example: "a sound economy"
2. exercising or showing good judgment; - Example: "healthy scepticism" - Example: "a healthy fear of rattlesnakes" - Example: "the healthy attitude of French laws" - Example: "healthy relations between labor and management" - Example: "an intelligent solution" - Example: "a sound approach to the problem" - Example: "sound advice" - Example: "no sound explanation for his decision" [syn: healthy, intelligent, levelheaded, level-headed, sound]
3. in good condition; free from defect or damage or decay; - Example: "a sound timber" - Example: "the wall is sound" - Example: "a sound foundation"
4. in excellent physical condition; - Example: "good teeth" - Example: "I still have one good leg" - Example: "a sound mind in a sound body" [syn: good, sound]
6. having legal efficacy or force; - Example: "a sound title to the property" [syn: legal, sound, effectual]
7. free from moral defect; - Example: "a man of sound character"
8. (of sleep) deep and complete; - Example: "a heavy sleep" - Example: "fell into a profound sleep" - Example: "a sound sleeper" - Example: "deep wakeless sleep" [syn: heavy, profound, sound, wakeless]