sounding board

noun

1. 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 behind and above a speaker, orchestra, etc., to reflect the sound toward the audience.
3. a board used in floors, partitions, etc., for deadening sound.
4. a person or persons whose reactions serve as a measure of the effectiveness of the methods, ideas, etc., put forth.
5. a person or group that propagates ideas, opinions, etc.:

   He was more of a sounding board than a novelist.

sounding board

noun

1. Also calledsoundboard 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 belly
2. Also calledsoundboard 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sounding board¹

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Reddit, a reader-fueled sounding board, has increasingly been used to cover breaking news events.

From The Daily Beast

Internally, Clinton has insisted that employees use the online “Sounding Board” to advocate for changes in department protocol.

From The Daily Beast

Or when she played the canny sounding board and strategist for Gov. Bill Clinton in his run for president.

From The Daily Beast

Samuel Shriqui, another Upper East Side hairdresser, feels that some clients take the sounding-board scenario too far.

From The Daily Beast

Part of a leader's job, of course, is to act as a sounding board for direct reports.

From The Daily Beast

The entire heavens seemed to form a sounding-board, the least vibration resonant beneath its stretch.

From Project Gutenberg

Music burst from the sounding-board, odd, wild music, suddenly hopeful.

From Project Gutenberg

The Pulpit is Oak, with carved panels, in shape hectagonal, and has a sounding-board.

From Project Gutenberg

The acoustic principle of sounding-board resonance, in its application to the voice, is discussed by several vocal scientists.

From Project Gutenberg

The importance attached by Howard to the sounding-board resonance of the entire body has already been noticed.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• audience