Sound line (5)
I believe the answer is:
plumb
I believe this clue is a double definition.
'sound' is the first definition.
(thesaurus)
'line' is the second definition.
(plumb line is a kind of line)
(Other definitions for plumb that I've seen before include "Exactly - in a vertical line" , "Lead weight; exactly" , "Measure the depth of water" , "Fathom - out-and-out" , "Lead weight for testing depth or the perpendicular" .)