Main Entry: ³sound

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English soun, from Anglo-French son, sun, from Latin sonus, from sonare to sound; akin to Old English swinn melody, Sanskrit svanati it sounds

Date: 13th century

1 a : a particular auditory impression : tone b : the sensation perceived by the sense of hearing c : mechanical radiant energy that is transmitted by longitudinal pressure waves in a material medium (as air) and is the objective cause of hearing
2 a : a speech sound <a peculiar r-sound> b : value in terms of speech sounds <-cher of teacher and -ture of creature have the same sound>
3 archaic : rumor, fame
4 a : meaningless noise b obsolete : meaning c : the impression conveyed : import
5 : hearing distance : earshot <within sound of your voice>
6 : recorded auditory material
7 : a particular musical style characteristic of an individual, a group, or an area <the Nashville sound>