sound4 (sound)

[Early mod. E. also sownde; Sw. sonder a = Dan. sondere ), attached to a line on which is marked the number of fathoms. Machines of various kinds are also used to indicate the depth to which the lead has descended. A cavity in the lower end of the lead is partially filled with IMG:content-1592.jpg:[ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][ocr errors][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed] IMG:content-1593.jpg:[blocks in formation] Apparatus used in Sounding. 5783 the mind of; search out the intention, opinion, will, or wish of. It is better to sound a person with whom one deals, afar off, than to fall upon the point at first, except you mean to surprise him by some short question. Bacon, Negotiating (ed. 1887). I have sounded him already at a distance, and find all his answers exactly to our wish. Goldsmith, Good-natured Man, ii. 4. To ascertain the depth of (water) in a ship's hold by lowering a sounding-rod into the pump well. - 5. To make a sounding with, or carry down in sounding, as a whale the tow-line of a boat. To sound a line, to sound all lines. See line2. II. in trans. 1. To use the line and lead in searching the depth of water. I sounde , as a schyppe man sowndeth in the see with his plommet to knowe the deppeth of the see. Je pilote. Palsgrave , p. 726. IMG:content-1594.png:[blocks in formation] sound cease to produce any sensation upon the ear. (2) Sounds differ in intensity or loudne . Primarily the intensity of the sound depends upon the amplitude of the vibrations; it diminishes with the square of the distance from the sounding-body; it also diminishes as the density of the air or other medium decreases, and is increased by the proximity of a sonorous body which can vibrate in unison with it. (3) Sounds differ in quality or timbre, that property by which we distinguish between the same tone as sounded upon two different musical instruments, as a piano and a violin. This difference is due to the fact that a note produced by a musical instrument is in general a compound note, consisting of the fundamental note, the pitch of which the ear perceives, and with it a number of higher notes of small intensity whose vibrations as compared with the fundamental note are usually as the numbers 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, etc. These upper notes, harmonics or over-tones (see harmonic ), blend with the fundamental note, and upon their number and relative intensity, consequently, the resultant combined effect upon the ear, or the quality of the note, depends. Sound-waves may, like light-waves, be reflected from an opposing surface (see reflection, echo, resonance); they may be refracted, or suffer a change of direction, in pa ing from one medium to another of different density; they may suffer diffraction; and they may also suffer interference, giving rise to the pulsations of sounds called beats. See beat1 , 7. 2. A particular quality or character of tone, producing a certain effect on the hearer, or suggesting a particular cause; tone; note: as, a joyful sound; a sound of woe. There is a sound of abundance of rain. 1 Ki. xviii. 41. Doug. That's the worst tidings that I hear of yet. Wor. Ay, by my faith, that bears a frosty sound. Shak., 1 Hen. IV., iv. 1. 128. The sound of a sea without wind is about them. Swinburne, Hesperia. IMG:content-1595.jpg:[graphic] "Tis not enough no harshne gives offence, The sound must seem an echo to the sense. Pope , E ay on Criticism, 1. 365. an instrument used for exploring or dilating -a A, B, C, Brooke's Deep-sea Sounding-apparatus: a; rod with horns pivoted thereto; c, sounding-line; d, wires by which the lead e is attached to the horns, connected with a washer / under the lead; h, opening in lower end of rod, by which specimens of the bottom may be secured. When the rod strikes the bottom, the lead slides downward, bringing the horns into the position shown in B, and releasing the wires d and the lead; the rod only is then drawn up, leaving the lead at the bottom. D, E, British Navy Sounding-apparatus: a, lead; b, counterpoised hooks which engage the loop at the top of the lead; d, wedge-shaped cup for specimens, attached by cord or wire to the pivot of the hooks; e, attachment for the sounding-line or wire. When the cup a touches bottom, the hooks & drop into the position shown in E; the sinker or lead then drops over, releasing the cup, and this, with its specimen and the hooks, is drawn to the surface. tallow, by means of which some part of the earth, sand, gravel, shells, etc., of the bottom adhere to it and are drawn up. Numerous devices are in use for testing the nature of the bottom, as a pair of large forceps or scoops carried down by a weight, which are closed when they IMG:content-1596.png:[merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][merged small][ocr errors][merged small] the urethra, or for searching the bladder.for stone.