n. 1. A sound; a tune; as, to sound the tucket sonance. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The quality or state of being sonant. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. sonans, -antis, p. pr. of sonare to sound. See Sound a noise. ] 1. Of or pertaining to sound; sounding. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Phonetics) Uttered, as an element of speech, with tone or proper vocal sound, as distinguished from mere breath sound; intonated; voiced; vocal; tonic; the opposite of nonvocal, or surd; -- said of the vowels, semivowels, liquids, and nasals, and particularly of the consonants b, d, g hard, v, etc., as compared with their cognates p, t, k, f, etc., which are called nonvocal, surd, or aspirate. -- n. A sonant letter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ It., fr. It. & L. sonare to sound. See Sound a noise. ] (Mus.) An extended composition for one or two instruments, consisting usually of three or four movements; as, Beethoven's sonatas for the piano, for the violin and piano, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The same general structure prevails in symphonies, instrumental trios, quartets, etc., and even in classical concertos. The sonata form, distinctively, characterizes the quick opening movement, which may have a short, slow introduction; the second, or slow, movement is either in the song or variation form; third comes the playful minuet or the more modern scherzo; then the quick finale in the rondo form. But both form and order are sometimes exceptional. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ It. ] (Mus.) A short and simple sonata. [ 1913 Webster ]