slow succession of vibrations. The tones of the base string of a violin are grave. (L. gravis, heavy, because such sounds fall on the ear like heavy masses.)
Shrill, very acute.
Note 1.—The terms soft, smooth, rough, harsh, and grating, are used to denote qualities of sound; but primarily and literally they designate qualities affecting the sense of touch.
Note 2.—The terms sweet and dulcet are applied to sounds, but, literally, they refer to a quality affecting the taste.
3. Specific Sounds.
a. Sounds of Inanimate Objects.
To Creak is to make a shrill noise like that of a door turning on its hinges.
To Crack is to make a sudden, sharp sound, like that accompanying the sudden separation of the parts of a brittle solid.
To Crackle is to make a succession of slight cracking sounds, as when a bundle of thorns is thrown into the fire. (Dim. and freq. of crack.)
To Crepitate is to make a small, crackling noise, as when a handful of salt is thrown into the fire. (L. crepito, crackle.)
To Snap is to emit a small, sharp sound like that caused by the sudden breaking of a brittle stick.
To Explode is to burst with a loud sound. (L. explodo [explosum], to utter a burst of loud sound.)
Explosion is, 1. The act of bursting with a loud sound. 2. A sudden burst of sound.
To Detonate is to burn with a sudden report. (L. detono, to thunder.)
To Pop is to emit a small, quick, hollowish sound, like that produced by the sudden shooting of the cork from a beer bottle.
Note.—Popping is caused by the sudden expansion of compressed air, or of confined vapor or gas.
To Whiz is to make a hissing sound, like that produced by passing the slender end of a switch rapidly through the air. A bullet, in passing over a person's head, is heard to whiz.
To Buzz is to emit a sound like that produced by the wings of a common fly.
A Humming- is heavier, deeper-toned, and more musical than a buzzing. A swarm of bees hum in the hive, or on the wing. A top in rapid motion hums. A mingling of obscure sounds heard from a distance is also called a hum; as, "the hum of the distant city."
A Droning is a heavy humming sound.
To Whir is to emit a roughish sound intermediate between a whizzing and a humming.
Note.—The whirling parts of machinery, if somewhat loose, produce this sound, as do likewise the wings of certain birds in flight.
To Ring is to give forth a clear, sharp sound like that produced by striking with a hammer on metallic plates or bars.
To Clang is to give forth a prolonged ringing sound, as when a large plate of brass is struck.
To Clank is to emit short and quick metallic sounds, as when the links of a heavy chain strike against each other.
Note.—A clang cut short becomes a clank, and a clank prolonged becomes a clang.
A Clangor is a loud, shrill, and harsh metallic sound, like that of a trumpet.
A Jingling is a rattling metallic sound, like that produced by the shaking of light chains or small bells.
To Tink is to emit a single small, sharp, and momentary metallic sound, as when a small bell is slightly tapped.
A Tinker is a mender of brass kettles, pans, and the like, (thus called from the tinking sound which accompanies his operations.)
A Tinkling consists in a succession of tinks or small ringing sounds. (Freq. of tink.)
