sounding board

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sounding board

1. Music

a. A thin board forming the upper portion of the resonant chamber in an instrument, such as a violin or piano, and serving to increase resonance.

b. A structure placed behind or over a podium or platform to reflect music or a speaker's voice to an audience. Also called soundboard.

2. A person or group whose reactions to an idea, opinion, or point of view serve as a measure of its effectiveness or acceptability.

3. A device or means serving to spread or popularize an idea or a point of view.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

sounding board

1. (Instruments) Also called: soundboard a thin wooden board in a piano or comprising the upper surface of a resonating chamber in a violin, cello, etc, serving to amplify the vibrations produced by the strings passing across it. See also belly⁶

2. (Building) Also called: soundboard a thin screen suspended over a pulpit, stage, etc, to reflect sound towards an audience

3. a person, group, experiment, etc, used to test a new idea, policy, etc, for acceptance or applicability

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

sound′ing board`

1. Also called soundboard. a thin, resonant plate of wood forming part of a musical instrument, and so placed as to enhance the power and quality of the tone.

2. a structure over or at the back of a platform or stage to reflect sound toward the audience.

3. a person whose reactions serve as a measure of the acceptability of an idea or course of action.

4. a person or group that propagates ideas or opinions.

[1760–70]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Switch to new thesaurus

Noun	1.	sounding board - a person whose reactions to something serve as an indication of its acceptability; "I would use newspapermen as a sounding board for such policies" individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul - a human being; "there was too much for one person to do"
	2.	sounding board - (music) resonator consisting of a thin board whose vibrations reinforce the sound of the instrument soundboard forte-piano, piano, pianoforte - a keyboard instrument that is played by depressing keys that cause hammers to strike tuned strings and produce sounds cavity resonator, resonating chamber, resonator - a hollow chamber whose dimensions allow the resonant oscillation of electromagnetic or acoustic waves sound hole - a hole in a soundboard (as of a violin) designed to resonate with the tones stringed instrument - a musical instrument in which taut strings provide the source of sound music - an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner

Translations

tornavoz

sounding board

(on instrument) → Resonanzboden m; (over platform etc) → Schalldeckel m

(fig) → Resonanzboden m; he used the committee as a sounding board for his ideas → er benutzte den Ausschuss, um die Wirkung seiner Vorschläge zu sondieren

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

sounding board

n (Mus) → tavola armonica (fig) → banco di prova

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

References in periodicals archive ?

Now he is calling on councillors across the political spectrum to join in with the council's "sounding board" to determine the finances for the years ahead, as initial meetings about the budget process got underway this week.

Council services could be 'unrecognisable'

New forum to encourage legal tech The City of London Corporation has launched a LawTech Sounding Board to gather views on how to increase adoption of legal technology in the financial and professional services sector.

City of London update

"It is very reassuring to know that there is an organisation who can be approached as a sounding board for new ideas and advice."

Preseli Lettings are going from strength to strength after support from Business Wales; The business is further exploring Business Wales resources to support their growth

Last month, we opened the door to an expanded way of thinking about Daily Herald editorials when we hosted a meeting of the new members of a Sounding Board we assembled to help ensure that we consider a broad range of arguments in the editorials we write.

The importance of listening, respect in flow of democracy

Last year the SNP group did not take part in the council's Budget Sounding Board but instead put their own budget forward, which was later defeated.

SNP urged to join council budget talks; BUDGET ROW

THE TIMETABLE FOR FEDERAL GOALS GETS A MIXED RESPONSE FROM PHYSICIAN LEADERS--A large majority of physician leaders who responded to a Sounding Board poll in February said their health care organizations are taking steps to meet the U.S.

Poll finds health care organizations preparing for value-based Medicare payments

With a dual-chamber sounding board and one-piece pillar construction, the calls generate 40 percent better sound resonance than the average pot call.

Performance pots

"Alan is a sounding board for me when Chris is on the pitch.

Adams: He's my connection with the guys on the pitch

In referring to the minimum wage, there is one group that has not been heard from ("Pay up," Sounding Board, July).

Wage worries

Sounding Board Home Theaters plus, a company that has been trusted by your friends and neighbors throughout the greater Bergan County area for decades, bring all the latest and greatest products for your home theater needs.

Sounding Board Home Theater Plus of Waldwick NJ, Proudly Announces Its Kick Off to Summer with Its New Line from Sonance

Responding to suggestions posted on The Sounding Board and from other sources, the Greening Diplomacy Initiative's Employee Ideas Team has helped the Department become more environmentally responsible with the landscaping at its Washington, D.C., area facilities.