Sound Meaning and Definition

Sound

Sound

Pronunciation

/soʊnd/

Part of Speech

Noun

Definition

A natural combination of vibrations that is perceived by the human ear as having a specific pitch, loudness, and quality.

Examples

  • The sound of the ocean waves was soothing.
  • She could hear the sound of the engine revving in the distance.
  • The movie had a loud and jarring sound effect that startled me.
  • The song had a catchy and memorable sound.
  • The sound of the wind rustling through the trees was calming.
  • The concert hall had state-of-the-art sound equipment.

Synonyms

  • Noise
  • Audio
  • Frequency

Antonyms

  • Silence
  • Quiet

Etymology

The word “sound” originated from Old English “sōnd”, derived from Proto-Germanic “*sundiz”, and ultimately from Proto-Indo-European “*swei-“, meaning “to hear” or “to hear of”.

Usage Notes

The word “sound” can be used as both a noun and a verb. As a noun, it refers to the auditory sensation, while as a verb, it means to produce a sound or to make a sound.

Cultural References

Sound has been referenced in various forms of art, literature, and music, including in songs like “Louder Than a Bomb” and “Sound of Silence”, and in movies like “The Sound of Music” and “Sound of Thunder”.

Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases

Some common idioms or phrases that include the word “sound” include “in perfect sound”, “sound asleep”, and “sound off”.

Related Words or Phrases

Words or phrases closely related in meaning or usage to “sound” include “noise”, “silence”, ” audio”, and “frequency”.

Collocations

Common word combinations with the term “sound” include “sound waves”, “sound effects”, “sound track”, and “sound system”.

Frequency of Use

The word “sound” is frequently used in everyday conversation and in various forms of media, including music, film, and literature.

Common Misspellings

Common misspellings of the word “sound” include “saund”, “sounnd”, and “sonnd”.

Related Words