Meaning of sound In English

• 0 something that you can hear or that can be heard:

  • They could hear the sound of a bell tolling in the distance.

  • She stood completely still, not making a sound.

  • Suddenly we heard a loud knocking sound from the engine.

  • Sound can travel over very large distances in water.

  • a sound engineer/recording

  • Could you turn the sound down/up on the TV?

  • The band's sound is a distinctive mixture of funk and rap.

• 1 how something seems to be, from what is said or written:

  • I like the sound of the beef in red wine sauce.

  • By/From the sound of it I don't think it was her fault.

  • I'm going to be talking to over 90 people? I don't like the sound of that!

• 2 a passage of sea connecting two larger areas of sea, or an area of sea mostly surrounded by land:

  • the Kalmar Sound

• 3 to seem good, interesting, strange, etc. from what is said or written:

  • Your job sounds really interesting.

  • I know it sounds silly, but I'll miss him when he's gone.

  • That sounds like a good idea.

  • It sounds like you've got a sore throat.

  • It sounds as if they had a good holiday.

  • You're going skiing with three friends? That sounds like fun.

  • He sounded very depressed when we spoke on the phone yesterday.

  • At the press conference, he sounded at his most relaxed.

• 4 to make a noise:

  • If the alarm sounds, leave the building immediately.

  • It sounds like a bird.

  • He sounds (= speaks) just like someone I used to work with.

  • Sounding the car's horn, she drove at high speed through the crowded streets.

  • Quick, sound the alarm - there's a fire in the machine room!

• 5 to measure the depth of a mass of water, such as the sea, usually by sonar

• 6 not broken or damaged; healthy; in good condition:

  • It's an old building but it's still structurally sound.

  • Considering his age, his body is surprisingly sound.

  • Was she of sound mind (= not mentally ill) at the time of the incident?

  • Although the company's share price has declined, its business remains basically sound.

  • Government bonds are a sound investment.

• 7 showing or based on good judgment:

  • She gave me some very sound advice.

  • She is a sound judge of character.

  • I'm not sure how sound the theoretical basis for this argument is.

  • The book is very sound on the basics.

  • How sound is her knowledge of the subject?

  • Are these pesticides environmentally sound?

  • I want our business to operate in an ethically sound way.

  • He's a good guy. He's sound.

  • "Shall we go there now?" "Yeah, sound."

• 8 (of sleep) deep:

  • He quickly fell into a sound sleep.

  • Her sleep was so sound that she did not wake when they moved her.

  • I'm normally a very sound sleeper but this noise kept me awake.

• 9 (of a beating or defeat) severe:

  • The party was forced to reflect after a sound beating at the ballot box.

  • The thief was given a sound thrashing.

• 10 deeply:

  • He was sound asleep within moments of getting into bed.

• 11 something heard or that may be heard:

  • [ C ] They could hear the sound of an airplane overhead.

• 12 a passage of sea connecting two larger areas of sea, or an area of sea mostly surrounded by land:

  • Puget Sound

  • Long Island Sound

• 13 to suggest a particular feeling, state, or thing by the way something is said or a noise is made:

  • [ L ] He sounded rather discouraged when I called him yesterday.

  • [ I always + adv/prep ] You sound as if you have a sore throat.

  • [ I always + adv/prep ] From what you told me, she sounds like (= seems to be) a nice person.

  • [ I always + adv/prep ] That sounds like fun (= seems likely to be enjoyable).

• 14 to make a noise:

  • [ I ] A bell sounds after fifty minutes to signal the end of the class period.

  • [ T ] Sound the alarm – a prisoner has escaped!

• 15 in good condition; (of a person) healthy, or (of a thing) not broken or damaged:

  • a person of sound mind

  • Engineers had to close the bridge because it was not sound.

  • She was sound asleep when the phone rang.

• 16 good because based on good judgment or correct methods:

  • It was a sound approach to investing money.

• 17 showing good judgment, or able to be trusted:

  • A sound money-management strategy that has the added benefit of freeing up cash for new investments.

  • The booklet gives sound advice on how to choose a with-profits bond.

• 18 in good condition:

  • The bridge is structurally sound.

• 19 complete or detailed:

  • A sound knowledge of law is essential.