Topic: LINGUISTICS
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Sense: 1-5
| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | soner, from Latin sonare, from sonus; SOUND1 |
| Date: | 1300-1400 |
| Language: | Old French |
| Origin: | sonder, from sonde 'line for measuring the depth of water' |
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sound2 S1 W2
1 if something or someone sounds good, bad, strange etc, that is how they seem to you when you hear about them or read about them 
I'll come over to Richmond and take you out for dinner. How does that sound? (=used to ask someone what they think of your suggestion)faraway places with strange-sounding names
seem
[linking verb] sound adj Istanbul sounds really exciting. The whole story sounded very odd. $80 sounds about right for a decent hotel room.
Istanbul sounds really exciting.The whole story sounded very odd.$80 sounds about right for a decent hotel room.I'll come over to Richmond and take you out for dinner. How does that sound? (=used to ask someone what they think of your suggestion)faraway places with strange-sounding names2 if a noise sounds like a particular thing, that is how it seems to you when you hear it
noise
[linking verb] sound adj Her breathing sounded very loud.
Her breathing sounded very loud.3 if someone sounds tired, happy, sad etc, that is how they seem to you when you hear their voice
voice
[linking verb] sound adj Are you okay? You sound tired. Josie didn't sound very keen when I spoke to her. Her voice sounded very young.
Are you okay? You sound tired.Josie didn't sound very keen when I spoke to her.Her voice sounded very young. sound like informal: She sounded like she'd been crying.
She sounded like she'd been crying. sound like You sound just like my mother (=the things you say, opinions you express etc are just like the things my mother says).
➔ see usage note seemYou sound just like my mother (=the things you say, opinions you express etc are just like the things my mother says).4 to publicly give a warning or tell people to be careful :
warning
[transitive]5 if something such as a horn or bell sounds, or if you sound it, it makes a noise : The bell sounded for dinner. Sound your horn to warn other drivers.
make a noise
[intransitive and transitive]The bell sounded for dinner.Sound your horn to warn other drivers.6 to make the sound of a letter in a word : The 's' in 'island' is not sounded.
pronounce
[transitive usually passive] technicalSLThe 's' in 'island' is not sounded.7 to measure the depth of the sea, a lake etc [↪ soundings]
measure depth
[transitive] technicalTMHEOsound off
phrasal verb1 informal to express strong opinions about something, especially when you complain angrily in a way that other people find rude or boring He should check his facts before sounding off.
He should check his facts before sounding off.2 American EnglishPMA if soldiers sound off, they shout out numbers or their names to show that they are there
sound somebody/something ↔ out
phrasal verbHe sounded people out and found the responses favourable.They want to sound out his opinion before they approach him formally.WORD CHOICE: WORD CHOICE: 
seem, appear, look, soundSeem and appear have the same meaning but appear is more formal • They seem upset. • This appears to be a good solution.You use look to say how someone or something seems to you when you look at them • Maureen looked tired. • That book looks good. You use sound to say how someone or something seems to you when you hear or read about them, or hear them • She sounds a lovely person. • The party sounded great. • He sounded tired.GRAMMARSeem can be followed by an adjective or an adjective and noun • She seemed happy. • He seems a nice man.Seem can also be followed by a verb in the infinitive • His story seems to be true. • You seem to think it's my fault.!! Seem can be followed by as if or as though but not just by as • It seems a small thing (NOT it seems as a small thing), but it's very important. • It seemed as if he wanted us to leave (NOT it seemed as he wanted ...). ➔ See also seem
WORD CHOICE: seem, appear, look, soundSeem and appear have the same meaning but appear is more formal • They seem upset. • This appears to be a good solution.You use look to say how someone or something seems to you when you look at them • Maureen looked tired. • That book looks good. You use sound to say how someone or something seems to you when you hear or read about them, or hear them • She sounds a lovely person. • The party sounded great. • He sounded tired.GRAMMARSeem can be followed by an adjective or an adjective and noun • She seemed happy. • He seems a nice man.Seem can also be followed by a verb in the infinitive • His story seems to be true. • You seem to think it's my fault.!! Seem can be followed by as if or as though but not just by as • It seems a small thing (NOT it seems as a small thing), but it's very important. • It seemed as if he wanted us to leave (NOT it seemed as he wanted ...). ➔ See also seem
