reverberation

American  

[ri-vur-buh-rey-shuhn] / rɪˌvɜr bəˈreɪ ʃən /

noun

1. a reechoed sound.

2. the fact of being reverberated or reflected.

3. something that is reverberated.

   Reverberations from the explosion were felt within a six-mile radius.

4. an act or instance of reverberating.

5. Physics. the persistence of a sound after its source has stopped, caused by multiple reflection of the sound within a closed space.

6. the act or process of subjecting something to reflected heat, as in a reverberatory furnace.

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Etymology

Origin of reverberation

1350–1400; Middle English reverberacioun < Medieval Latin reverberātiōn- (stem of reverberātiō ). See reverberate, -ion

Explanation

A reverberation is an echoing sound. When you bang on a big piece of metal, you can hear the reverberation even after you stop banging. The repeating, often low, booming sound that follows the strum of an electric guitar or the thump of a drumstick on a cymbal is called reverberation. It's frequently described as sound that lingers beyond the original noise. You can also use the word to describe something else that lingers, like a feeling or an effect: "The reverberations of the war lasted for decades." Originally, reverberation was "reflection of light or heat," from the Old French reverberacion, "great flash of light."

Example Sentences

First Reverberation of the Betty White Revival: William Shatner is recording a space-themed album of covers, possibly with Bootsy Collins and Queen’s Brian May.

From New York Times • Feb. 9, 2011

Reverberation implies space, an ample vault of roof or of heaven.

From Essays Æsthetical by Calvert, George H. (George Henry)

His duties of the day will seem The fact of life, and mine the dream: The destinies that bards have sung, Regeneration to the young, Reverberation of the truth, And virtuous culture unto youth!

From Poems — Volume 1 by Meredith, George

Related Words

• repercussion