See Also: sounding(1)(dictionary)
sounding(2)(dictionary)
sounding(3)(dictionary)
sounding(4)(dictionary)
Sounding - Sailing(gambling)
high-sounding(medicine)
high-sounding(dictionary)
sounding board(dictionary)
SOUNDING IN DAMAGES(law)

sounding(2) (iou)



sounding noun1. ME.
[from SOUND verb2 + -ING1.]
a. The action or process of sounding the depth of water; an instance of this. ME.
b. The determination of a physical property at a depth in the sea or at a height in the atmosphere; an instance of this. L19.
c. Archaeology. A trial excavation of limited scale made on a site to gain preliminary information. M20.
a. In pl. & sing. A position at sea where it is possible to reach the bottom with an ordinary deep-sea lead; a depth of water able to be sounded. Freq. in in soundings, off soundings. L15.
b. In pl. Depths of water, esp. of the sea along a coast or in a harbour, ascertained by sounding; entries in a logbook etc. giving details of these. L16.
Investigation, inquiry. Also sounding out. M16.
Medicine. The action of examining with a sound (SOUND noun4 3) or probe. L16.
Phrases: strike soundings: see STRIKE verb. take soundings try to find out how matters stand, esp. cautiously or indirectly.
Comb.: sounding balloon: used to obtain information about the upper atmosphere; sounding-lead the lead or plummet attached to a sounding-line; sounding-line a line used in sounding the depth of water; sounding rocket: designed to carry scientific instruments into the upper atmosphere in order to make measurements during its flight; sounding-rod: used in finding the depth of water in a ship's hold.