echo
a repetition of sound produced by the reflection of sound waves from a wall, mountain, or other obstructing surface.
a sound heard again near its source after being reflected.
any repetition or close imitation, as of the ideas or opinions of another.
a person who reflects or imitates another.
a sympathetic or identical response, as to sentiments expressed.
a lingering trace or effect.
(initial capital letter)Classical Mythology. a mountain nymph who pined away for love of the beautiful youth Narcissus until only her voice remained.
Cards. the play of a high card and then a low card in the suit led by one's partner as a signal to continue leading the suit, as in bridge, or to lead a trump, as in whist.
Electronics. the reflection of a radio wave, as in radar or the like.
(initial capital letter)U.S. Aerospace. one of an early series of inflatable passive communications satellites.
a word used in communications to represent the letter E.
to emit an echo; resound with an echo: The hall echoed with cheers.
to be repeated by or as by an echo: Shouts echoed through the street.
to repeat by or as by an echo; emit an echo of: The hall echoes the faintest sounds.
to repeat or imitate the words, sentiments, etc., of (a person).
to repeat or imitate (words, sentiments, etc.).
Origin of echo
1Other words for echo
Other words from echo
- ech·o·er, noun
- ech·o·less, adjective
- outecho, verb (used with object), out·ech·oed, out·ech·o·ing.
- sub·ech·o, noun, plural sub·ech·oes.
- un·ech·oed, adjective
- un·ech·o·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
British Dictionary definitions for echo (1 of 4)
/ (ˈɛkəʊ) /
the reflection of sound or other radiation by a reflecting medium, esp a solid object
the sound so reflected
a repetition or imitation, esp an unoriginal reproduction of another's opinions
something that evokes memories, esp of a particular style or era
(sometimes plural) an effect that continues after the original cause has disappeared; repercussion: the echoes of the French Revolution
a person who copies another, esp one who obsequiously agrees with another's opinions
the signal reflected by a radar target
the trace produced by such a signal on a radar screen
the repetition of certain sounds or syllables in a verse line
the quiet repetition of a musical phrase
Also called: echo organ, echo stop a manual or stop on an organ that controls a set of quiet pipes that give the illusion of sounding at a distance
an electronic effect in recorded music that adds vibration or resonance
to resound or cause to resound with an echo: the cave echoed their shouts
(intr) (of sounds) to repeat or resound by echoes; reverberate
(tr) (of persons) to repeat (words, opinions, etc), in imitation, agreement, or flattery
(tr) (of things) to resemble or imitate (another style, earlier model, etc)
(tr) (of a computer) to display (a character) on the screen of a visual display unit as a response to receiving that character from a keyboard entry
Origin of echo
1Derived forms of echo
- echoing, adjective
- echoless, adjective
- echo-like, adjective
British Dictionary definitions for Echo (2 of 4)
/ (ˈɛkəʊ) /
either of two US passive communications satellites, the first of which was launched in 1960
British Dictionary definitions for Echo (3 of 4)
/ (ˈɛkəʊ) /
Greek myth a nymph who, spurned by Narcissus, pined away until only her voice remained
British Dictionary definitions for Echo (4 of 4)
/ (ˈɛkəʊ) /
communications code word for the letter e
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for echo
[ ĕk′ō ]
A repeated sound that is caused by the reflection of sound waves from a surface. The sound is heard more than once because of the time difference between the initial production of the sound waves and their return from the reflecting surface.
A wave that carries a signal and is reflected. Echoes of radio signals (carried by electromagnetic waves) are used in radar to detect the location or velocity of distant objects.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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