sounding
n. countablen. an attempt to find out what people think about a plan or idea before making a final decision. It is like testing the water to see if others agree with you.
n. an exploratory investigation or inquiry conducted to gauge public opinion or the feasibility of a proposal. Often used in the plural form to describe preliminary discussions with stakeholders.
The manager took soundings from the team before changing the schedule.
The government is taking soundings among local businesses to see how they would react to a new tax.
Initial soundings suggest that while the board supports the merger in principle, there are significant concerns regarding the proposed leadership structure and long-term debt obligations.
From sound (“produce a sound”) + -ing.
From sound (“examine with the instrument called a sound, or by auscultation or percussion”) + -ing.
Frequently used in the plural ('soundings') and often follows the verb 'take'.