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sound out

sound out
S s

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [sound out]
    • /saʊnd aʊt/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [sound out]
    • /saʊnd aʊt/

Definitions of sound out words

  • verb with object sound out to measure or try the depth of (water, a deep hole, etc.) by letting down a lead or plummet at the end of a line, or by some equivalent means. 1
  • verb with object sound out to measure (depth) in such a manner, as at sea. 1
  • verb with object sound out to examine or test (the bottom, as of the sea or a deep hole) with a lead that brings up adhering bits of matter. 1
  • verb with object sound out to examine or investigate; seek to fathom or ascertain: to sound a person's views. 1
  • verb with object sound out to seek to elicit the views or sentiments of (a person) by indirect inquiries, suggestive allusions, etc. (often followed by out): Why not sound him out about working for us? 1
  • verb with object sound out Surgery. to examine, as the urinary bladder, with a sound. 1

Information block about the term

Origin of sound out

First appearance:

before 1300
One of the 15% oldest English words
1300-50; Middle English sounden < Old French sonder to plumb, derivative of sonde sounding line < ?

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Sound out

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

sound out popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 100% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

sound out usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for sound out

verb sound out

  • approach — When you approach something, you get closer to it.
  • blare — If something such as a siren or radio blares or if you blare it, it makes a loud, unpleasant noise.
  • check over — a thorough examination or investigation.
  • check up — If you check up on something, you find out information about it.
  • clanging — a clanging sound.

Antonyms for sound out

verb sound out

  • certainty — Certainty is the state of being definite or of having no doubts at all about something.
  • doubtlessness — The property of being doubtless.

See also

Matching words

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