loud Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective characterized by or producing sound of great volume or intensity
    • a group of loud children
    • loud thunder
    • her voice was too loud
    • loud trombones
  2. adjective satellite tastelessly showy
    garish; gaudy; brassy; meretricious; tatty; tawdry; flash; cheap; flashy; tacky; gimcrack; trashy.
    • a flash car
    • a flashy ring
    • garish colors
    • a gaudy costume
    • loud sport shirts
    • a meretricious yet stylish book
    • tawdry ornaments
  3. adjective used chiefly as a direction or description in music
    forte.
    • the forte passages in the composition
  4. adverb with relatively high volume
    aloud; loudly.
    • the band played loudly
    • she spoke loudly and angrily
    • he spoke loud enough for those at the back of the room to hear him
    • cried aloud for help

WordNet

Loud adjective
Etymology
OE. loud, lud, AS. hld; akin to OS. hld, D. luid, OHG. lt, G. laut, L. -clutus, in inclutus, inclitus, celebrated, renowned, cluere to be called, Gr. heard, loud, famous, to hear, Skr. ru. . Cf. Client, Listen, Slave a serf.
Wordforms
comparative Louder ; superlative Loudest
Definitions
  1. Having, making, or being a strong or great sound; noisy; striking the ear with great force; as, a loud cry; loud thunder.
    They were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. Luke xxiii. 23.
  2. Clamorous; boisterous.
    She is loud and stubborn. Prov. vii. 11.
  3. Emphatic; impressive; urgent; as, a loud call for united effort. Colloq.
  4. Ostentatious; likely to attract attention; gaudy; as, a loud style of dress; loud colors. Slang Syn. -- Noisy; boisterous; vociferous; clamorous; obstreperous; turbulent; blustering; vehement.
Loud adverb
Etymology
AS. hl&umac;de.
Definitions
  1. With loudness; loudly.
    To speak loud in public assemblies. Addison.

Webster 1913