Bounce vs Bound

Stuart Dren

Active Member
For the passage in question, I'm referring to a firearm's report [sound] bouncing off of walls. Bounding sounds better, but can sound bound? Or best to stick with bounce?

Google searches indicate bounding [verb] it's most commonly regarded as a leaping or hopping motion.

However, Mr. Webby has this:
bound

verb (1)


bounded; bounding; bounds
intransitive verb

1
: to move by leaping
deer bounding across a field

She bounded down the stairs.


2
: rebound, bounce
a bounding rubber ball

I ended up choosing reverberated for now. So this is sort of moot, but I'm still curious: does bound seem right or weird here?
 
How does rebound work for you? It conveys some of that springing idea.l but is in essence reflection or un-deflection.

To me, bounding requires a being with volition investing energy. Dogs and children notably bound over fields and such. It sort of suggests to me that each burst of energy is bigger than the previous.

And the bound in leaps and bounds suggests to me not bouncing but a leap that is longer than an ordinary leap.
 
I have never thought bounce and bound to be synonymous, and can't really imagine sound bounding.

Reverberate sounds good if a bit of a mouthful. Echoing might work if you want fewer syllables. Ricochet in the middle of the syllable count and technically very accurate - often used with gunshot sounds.
 
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