|
noun Sounding n. 1.The act of one who, or that which, sounds (in any of the senses of the several verbs). 2.(Naut.) (a)Measurement by sounding; also, the depth so ascertained. (b)Any place or part of the ocean, or other water, where a sounding line will reach the bottom; usually in the plural. (c)The sand, shells, or the like, that are brought up by the sounding lead when it has touched bottom. Sounding lead, the plummet at the end of a sounding line. Sounding line, a line having a plummet at the end, used in making soundings. Sounding post (Mus.), a small post in a violin, violoncello, or similar instrument, set under the bridge as a support, for propagating the sounds to the body of the instrument; called also sound post. Sounding rod (Naut.), a rod used to ascertain the depth of water in a ship's hold. In soundings, within the eighty-fathom line.
verb Sound v. t. (past & past part. sounded; pres. part. sounding) 1.To measure the depth of; to fathom; especially, to ascertain the depth of by means of a line and plummet. 2.Fig.: To ascertain, or try to ascertain, the thoughts, motives, and purposes of (a person); to examine; to try; to test; to probe. "I was in jest, And by that offer meant to sound your breast." "I've sounded my Numidians man by man." 3.(Med.) To explore, as the bladder or urethra, with a sound; to examine with a sound; also, to examine by auscultation or percussion; as, to sound a patient.
Sound v. t. 1.To cause to make a noise; to play on; as, to sound a trumpet or a horn; to sound an alarm. "A bagpipe well could he play and soun(d)." 2.To cause to exit as a sound; as, to sound a note with the voice, or on an instrument. 3.To order, direct, indicate, or proclain by a sound, or sounds; to give a signal for by a certain sound; as, to sound a retreat; to sound a parley. "The clock sounded the hour of noon." 4.To celebrate or honor by sounds; to cause to be reported; to publish or proclaim; as, to sound the praises of fame of a great man or a great exploit. 5.To examine the condition of (anything) by causing the same to emit sounds and noting their character; as, to sound a piece of timber; to sound a vase; to sound the lungs of a patient. 6.To signify; to import; to denote. (Obs.) "Soun(d)ing alway the increase of his winning."
Sound v. i. To ascertain the depth of water with a sounding line or other device. "I sound as a shipman soundeth in the sea with his plummet to know the depth of sea."
Sound v. i. 1.To make a noise; to utter a voice; to make an impulse of the air that shall strike the organs of hearing with a perceptible effect. "And first taught speaking trumpets how to sound." "How silver-sweet sound lovers' tongues!" 2.To be conveyed in sound; to be spread or published; to convey intelligence by sound. "From you sounded out the word of the Lord." 3.To make or convey a certain impression, or to have a certain import, when heard; hence, to seem; to appear; as, this reproof sounds harsh; the story sounds like an invention. "Good sir, why do you start, and seem to fear Things that do sound so fair?" To sound in or To sound into, to tend to; to partake of the nature of; to be consonant with. (Obs., except in the phrase To sound in damages, below.) "Soun(d)ing in moral virtue was his speech." To sound in damages (Law), to have the essential quality of damages. This is said of an action brought, not for the recovery of a specific thing, as replevin, etc., but for damages only, as trespass, and the like.
adjective Sounding adj. Making or emitting sound; hence, sonorous; as, sounding words.
Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48
|
...
