sound [1] (sounds plural & 3rd person present) (sounding present participle) (sounded past tense & past participle ) (NOUN AND VERB USES)
Please look at category 12 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.
1 n-count A sound is something that you hear.
Peter heard the sound of gunfire..., Liza was so frightened she couldn't make a sound..., There was a splintering sound as the railing gave way., ...the sounds of children playing.
2 n-uncount Sound is energy that travels in waves through air, water, or other substances, and can be heard.
The aeroplane will travel at twice the speed of sound.
3 n-sing Thesound on a television, radio, or CD player is what you hear coming from the machine. Its loudness can be controlled.
the N
She went and turned the sound down..., Compact discs have brought about a vast improvement in recorded sound quality.
4 n-count A singer's or band's sound is the distinctive quality of their music.
with supp
He's got a unique sound and a unique style.
5 verb If something such as a horn or a bell sounds or if you sound it, it makes a noise.
The buzzer sounded in Daniel's office... V
A young man sounds the bell to start the Sunday service. V n
6 verb If you sound a warning, you publicly give it. If you sound a note of caution or optimism, you say publicly that you are cautious or optimistic.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has sounded a warning to Europe's leaders on third world debt... V n
7 v-link When you are describing a noise, you can talk about the way it sounds.
They heard what sounded like a huge explosion... V like n
The creaking of the hinges sounded very loud in that silence... V adj
It sounded as if he were trying to say something. V as if
8 v-link When you talk about the way someone sounds, you are describing the impression you have of them when they speak.
She sounded a bit worried... V adj
Murphy sounds like a child... V like n
She sounded as if she really cared... V as if
I thought she sounded a genuinely caring and helpful person. V n
9 v-link When you are describing your impression or opinion of something you have heard about or read about, you can talk about the way it sounds.
It sounds like a wonderful idea to me, does it really work?... V like n
It sounds as if they might have made a dreadful mistake... V as if
She decided that her doctor's advice sounded pretty good... V adj
The book is not as morbid as it sounds... V adj
I know this sounds a crazy thing for me to ask you. V n
10 n-sing You can describe your impression of something you have heard about or read about by talking about the sound of it.
the N of n
Here's a new idea we liked the sound of..., From the sound of things, he might well be the same man...
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-sounding
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sounding
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to sound the alarm
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alarm
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to sound the death knell
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death knell
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safe and sound
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safe sound off phrasal verb If someone sounds off, they express their opinions strongly and rather rudely without being asked.
INFORMAL, disapproval It is surprising how many people start sounding off about something without really deciding what they think about it. V P about/on n, Also V P sound out phrasal verb If you sound someone out, you question them in order to find out what their opinion is about something.
He is sounding out Middle Eastern governments on ways to resolve the conflict... V P n (not pron)
Sound him out gradually. Make sure it is what he really wants. V n P
