Page:The Readable Dictionary.djvu/50

14 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.)

, very acute.

To is to make a shrill noise like that of a door turning on its hinges.

To is to make a sudden, sharp sound, like that accompanying the sudden separation of the parts of a brittle solid.

To 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 is to make a small, crackling noise, as when a handful of salt is thrown into the fire. (L. crepito, crackle.)

To is to emit a small, sharp sound like that caused by the sudden breaking of a brittle stick.

To 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 is to burn with a sudden report. (L. detono, to thunder.)

To is to emit a small, quick, hollowish sound, like that produced by the sudden shooting of the cork from a beer bottle.

To 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 is to emit a sound like that produced by the wings of a common fly.

A - 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 is a heavy humming sound.

To is to emit a roughish sound intermediate between a whizzing and a humming.

To is to give forth a clear, sharp sound like that produced by striking with a hammer on metallic plates or bars.

To is to give forth a prolonged ringing sound, as when a large plate of brass is struck.

To is to emit short and quick metallic sounds, as when the links of a heavy chain strike against each other.

A is a loud, shrill, and harsh metallic sound, like that of a trumpet.

A is a rattling metallic sound, like that produced by the shaking of light chains or small bells.

To 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.)