sounding

Pluralsoundings (some meanings)

1. 1
   verb

   Present participle and gerund of sound. Use this form for an action happening now or as the name of the action.

   The fire alarm kept sounding all afternoon.

   Sounding the horn twice, the driver warned the children to step back.

   Note
2. 2
   noununcountable

   The act of making a sound or causing one to be heard.

   The sounding of the alarm woke everyone in the house.

   We waited for the sounding of the final whistle.

   Similarringing, blaring

   Note
3. 3
   adjective

   Making a sound or giving off noise.

   The sounding horns echoed across the valley.

   Children covered their ears near the loudly sounding bell.

   Similarringing, resonant

   Oppositesilent

4. 4
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A measurement of how deep the water is at a certain spot.

   Like lowering a weighted string into a well to find how deep the water is.

   The sailors took a sounding to check the water's depth.

   The sounding near the reef warned them to turn back.

   Similarreading, measurement

5. 5
   nouncountable or uncountable

   A test done with a probe or a special measuring tool.

   The doctor performed a sounding to find the blockage.

   The morning sounding from the weather balloon showed very dry air high above the city.

   Similarreading

   Note
6. 6
   adjective

   Having a deep, full, ringing sound.

   The sounding drums could be heard for miles.

   He spoke in a deep, sounding voice that filled the room.

   Similarresonant, sonorous, rich, booming, full

   Oppositethin, reedy, faint

   Note
7. 7
   nouncountable or uncountableplural

   A part of the sea shallow enough for a weighted line to touch the bottom.

   The ship reached soundings as it neared the coast.

   Out of soundings, the lead line found no bottom at all.

   Note
8. 8
   nouncountable or uncountable

   Putting a thin metal rod into the tube that carries urine out of the penis, for medical or sexual reasons.

   The doctor did a sounding because the tube that carries his urine had become too narrow.

   A careful sounding can ease the passage of urine when it is blocked.

9. 9
   nouncountable or uncountable

   The sand, shells, or mud that a weighted line brings up after touching the seabed.

   The sounding brought up fine gray sand from the seabed.

   By the shells in the sounding, they knew they were near the bank.

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