sounded

Sounded is the past tense and past participle of the verb sound. It has several related meanings, most commonly tied to producing a sound or to examining something by probing or measuring.

In nautical and surveying contexts, to sound means to measure the depth of a body of water. A sounding is obtained with a line or instrument that records depth, often using a weighted lead or modern sonar/echo-sounding equipment. Historically, sailors used a sounding line with a lead to determine safe navigation depths, while today echo-sounding systems provide rapid depth readings across larger areas.

In general usage, sounded can refer to producing or emitting a sound, as in a bell or alarm that sounded. The phrase can also take a figurative sense, such as when someone sounds out opinions or intentions—testing reactions or gathering information before taking action. Medical usage exists as well: to sound a body cavity or passage is to probe it with a slender instrument called a sound, often to locate a blockage or assess anatomy.

Etymologically, sound in these senses shares a root related to measurement and examination. The noun sound can denote a channel of water or a measurement instrument, and the corresponding verb extends that sense to depth assessment, sound production, or probing. The term remains common in nautical literature and in phrases that convey testing, exploration, or the emission of sound.

See also: sound (disambiguation), sounding, sonar, depth measurement.