sounding
UK: ˈsaʊndɪŋ | US: ˈsaʊndɪŋ
n. 1. The act of measuring the depth of water (especially in navigation).
n. 2. A vocal or instrumental sound produced for testing or effect.
adj. 3. Giving the impression of being valid or meaningful (e.g., "sounding rhetoric").
The word "sounding" derives from the Old English "sund," meaning "swimming" or "sea," later influenced by the verb "sound" (from Latin "sonare," meaning "to make noise"). The nautical sense emerged from the practice of using a weighted line to "sound" (measure) water depth, while the auditory sense retained the original Latin root's connection to noise. The suffix "-ing" nominalizes or adjectivizes the root, reflecting action or quality.
The sailors took frequent soundings to avoid shallow reefs.
The orchestra's warm-up produced a cacophony of soundings.
His speech was full of lofty but ultimately empty soundings.
Echo soundings revealed an underwater trench.
The sounding of the alarm alerted the neighborhood.