echo Hear it!

echo definition

echo (ekō)

noun pl. echoes -·oes

    1. the repetition of a sound by reflection of sound waves from a surface
    2. a sound so produced
    1. any repetition or imitation of the words, style, ideas, etc. of another
    2. a person who thus repeats or imitates
  1. sympathetic response
  2. Electronics a radar wave reflected from an object, appearing as a spot of light on a radarscope
  3. Gr. Myth. a nymph who, because of her unreturned love for Narcissus, pines away until only her voice remains
  4. Music
    1. a soft repetition of a phrase
    2. an organ stop for producing the effect of echo
  5. Radio, TV the reception of two similar and almost simultaneous signals because one of them has been delayed slightly by reflection from the E layer in transmission

Etymology: ME ecco < L echo < Gr ēchō < IE base *(s)waĝh-, var. of *wag-, to cry out > L vagire, OE swogan, to sound, roar

intransitive verb echoed -·oed, echoing -·o·ing

  1. to resound with an echo; reverberate
  2. to be repeated as or like an echo

transitive verb

    1. to repeat (another's words, ideas, etc.)
    2. to repeat the words, etc. of (another person)
  1. to repeat or reflect (sound) from a surface

Related Forms:

  • echoey echo·ey′ (ekō ē′) adjective

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Comments
Improve this definition.
Do you have more to add? Share your linguistic knowledge or observation.
/Register to save your comments.