Skip to content
APG.American
Pronunciation Guide
HOW TO PRONOUNCE

sound

/ˈsaʊ̯nd/

Press play to hear how to pronounce sound.

American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
Watch on YouTube ↗

What does sound mean?

adjective

  1. Healthy.
  2. Complete, solid, or secure.
  3. Having the property of soundness.
More meanings (28)

adjective

  1. (slang) Good; acceptable; decent.
  2. Quiet and deep.
  3. Heavy; laid on with force.
  4. Founded in law; legal; valid; not defective.

adverb

  1. Soundly.

interjection

  1. (slang) Yes; used to show agreement or understanding.

noun

  1. A sensation perceived by the ear caused by the vibration of air or some other medium.
  2. A vibration capable of causing such sensations.
  3. A distinctive style and sonority of a particular musician, orchestra etc.
  4. Noise without meaning; empty noise.
  5. Earshot, distance within which a certain noise may be heard.
  6. A segment as a part of spoken language, the smallest unit of spoken language, a speech sound.
  7. A 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.
  8. The air bladder of a fish.
  9. A long, thin probe for sounding or dilating body cavities or canals such as the urethra; a sonde.

verb

  1. To produce a sound.
  2. To convey an impression by one's sound.
  3. To be conveyed in sound; to be spread or published; to convey intelligence by sound.
  4. To 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.
  5. To cause to produce a sound.
  6. To pronounce.
  7. Of a whale, to dive downwards.
  8. To ascertain, or to try to ascertain, the thoughts, motives, and purposes of (a person); to examine; to try; to test; to probe.
  9. To fathom or test; to ascertain the depth of water with a sounding line or other device.
  10. To examine with the instrument called a sound or sonde, or by auscultation or percussion.
  11. (obsolete) To resound.

proper noun

  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.
Wiktionary contributors Wiktionary contributors

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/ˈsaʊ̯nd/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0 ↗

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

It is a sound and important principle that the representative ought to be acquainted with the interests and circumstances of his constituents.
Alexander Hamilton; John Jay; James MadisonThe Federalist PapersProject Gutenberg ebook #18
As Oak approached the building the sound of violins and a tambourine, and the regular jigging of many feet, grew more distinct.
Thomas HardyFar from the Madding CrowdProject Gutenberg ebook #27
More book examples (3)
A pigeon, alone on a low branch, allowed Pearl to come beneath, and uttered a sound as much of greeting as alarm.
Nathaniel HawthorneThe Scarlet LetterProject Gutenberg ebook #33
Through the stillness, which had been absolute, there could now be heard distinctly the sound of horses’ hoofs on the muddy road.
Emmuska Orczy, Baroness OrczyThe Scarlet PimpernelProject Gutenberg ebook #60
But there was no answering sound, and a moment later I had felt from stem to stern and found the boat deserted.
Edgar Rice BurroughsThe warlord of MarsProject Gutenberg ebook #68