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sound

sound

77 2.3
In good condition and safe to use
  • adjective
  • /saʊnd/
: sólido
  • Our beloved Katherine West is home, safe and sound.
  • structurally sound
  • environmentally sound
  • ecologically sound

Needless fears, a sound mind and a sound body.

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Examples

  • Yeltsin's trips demonstrated that he was physically sound, in touch with ordinary people, and willing to listen.

    Academic text (1996)
  • "Well, here she is, safe and sound, and only a little the worse for wear.

    Fiction book (1995)
  • Oh, honey, you are safe and sound.

  • We're all here together safe and sound.

  • Everyone is safe and sound.

  • They're all tucked up safe and sound at Ida's house.

  • Although it was old, it was as sound as the day it had been made.

  • Thank God his house was sound and strong, a proven veteran of many storms.

  • We build, firstly, a really sound capsule in which the people inside will survive.

Synonyms

fine
vssound
∞ 1.0

In good enough condition so no one needs to worry

implies being strong healthy or safe rather than merely acceptable
good
vssound
318 1.0

Still valid and legally accepted for use

is more about being strong healthy or safe rather than legal validity
safe and sound
vssound
  • Informal
59 1.5

Not hurt and not in danger

is broader covering good condition strength or health not only absence of harm
undamaged
vssound
12 2.4

Not harmed or broken and still in its original condition

focuses on strength health or safety rather than only absence of harm
sound as a bell
vssound
1 6.0

In very good working condition and reliable

is generally in good strong or healthy condition rather than perfect

Antonyms

378 1.1

Harmed so it works or looks worse

2 5.4

Physically damaged or unhealthy

Idioms

safe and sound
  • Informal
59 1.5

Not hurt and not in danger

17 3.2

Resting very deeply and not waking easily

of sound mind
  • Formal
10 6.5

Able to think clearly and make decisions

To keep saying the same complaint again and again until people get annoyed

Cannot hear something because a louder noise is present

to sound fishy
  • Informal
3 7.0

To seem not honest or real

In very good working condition and reliable

To warn people about a possible danger or serious problem

To enjoy hearing yourself talk because you feel important

To enjoy hearing yourself speak while not listening to others

Talk in a way that shows old, unfair ideas about women

Compounds

sound bite
  • Literature
62 4.0

A short part of a recorded statement on radio or television, often by a politician

33 3.5

A set of electronic devices that records, makes louder, or plays sound

32 3.1

A recorded sound added to films or plays to copy real noises

sound wave
  • Specialized
23 3.5

A pattern of vibrations that moves through air, water, or solids and carries sound

12 4.0

A large bay of the Pacific Ocean in northwest Washington State with many connected waterways and islands

sound barrier
  • Specialized
7 5.7

The point near the speed of sound when a plane feels a sudden push and strong vibration

The ability to make sensible, careful decisions

A stretch of water between Long Island and Connecticut on the US Atlantic coast

A saved copy of voices, music, or other noises you can play back

2 2.5

A sound made with the mouth open that forms the main part of a syllable

1 3.9

A way of thinking or arguing that uses good reasons and evidence to show something is true

sound hole
  • Specialized
1 4.9

An opening in the top of an instrument with strings, like a guitar, that makes its sound louder

1 6.8

A truck with big speakers that drives around to play announcements or ads

A person who controls sound equipment for TV, radio, or live shows

1 2.5

A soft wet noise something makes when you press or step on it

sound reproduction
  • Specialized
1 4.6

To play recorded sound so it sounds like the original

speech sound
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A single sound that people make when they talk

1 3.6

A movie that has recorded sound and spoken dialogue

voiced sound
  • Specialized
1 4.1

A speech sound made when the vocal cords in your throat move quickly

Loud unwanted noise that disturbs people and can harm health

sound pressure
  • Specialized
1 5.1

Extra pressure in the air caused by a sound wave that we can measure

sound perception
  • Specialized
1 5.6

The ability to hear and understand sounds around you

sound pressure level
  • Specialized
1 5.1

A measure of how loud a sound is in decibels

foley sound
  • Specialized
1 7.2

Recorded noise made to match actions seen on screen

sound structure
  • Specialized
1 7.0

The way small spoken parts are arranged to make words

A long bay of the Pacific Ocean off the coast of British Columbia, Canada

sound ranging
  • Specialized
1 9.5

A method of finding where a sound comes from by measuring how long it takes to reach microphones

sound unit
  • Specialized
1 4.2

A unit that measures how loud a sound is, like the decibel

sound reflection
  • Specialized
1 3.8

A bounce of sound you hear again after it hits a surface

sound projection
  • Specialized
1 6.4

How far and how clearly people hear a sound in a place

sound camera
  • Specialized
1 5.6

A movie camera that records sound together with the picture

sound spectrum
  • Specialized
1 6.7

The loudness of the high and low parts of a sound, for example a violin or flute

sound alphabet
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A set of letters that show speech sounds like the International Phonetic Alphabet

1 3.8

An audio system that plays sound very clearly with little distortion

The pressure of sound at one moment at a point

kerching sound
  • Informal
9.9

A sound like coins clinking when someone gets money

9.9

A silly bouncing sound that toys or cartoons make when they move

sound spectrograph
  • Specialized
9.1

A machine that shows different pitches in a sound as a picture

sound bow
  • Specialized
9.9

Thick part of a bell that the metal piece inside hits to make it ring

sound camera
  • Specialized
8.0

A device that makes pictures showing where sounds come from and how loud they are

sound law
  • Specialized
9.8

A regular rule that explains how sounds in a language change over time

sound doubler
  • Specialized
8.2

A device that makes voices or music sound fuller by copying the original sound

How Sound

robust
120 3.9
solid
719 3.0
sound
77 2.3
shaky
71 3.3
unsound
2 5.4

Surface Forms

sound positive

Etymology

Sound (adjective, 'in good condition') comes from an old word sund meaning 'healthy' or 'whole', so something sound is strong, safe, and not damaged.