See resonance in Webster's New World College Dictionary
noun
the quality or state of being resonant
reinforcement and prolongation of a sound or musical tone by reflection or by sympathetic vibration of other bodies
the quality of having an intensity of emotion or richness of expression that evokes or reinforces a sympathetic response
an underlying or pervasive quality of a particular type, esp. in a work of art or literature: an apocalyptic resonance
Chem. the property of certain molecules of having two or more structures in which only the positions of electrons differ: these structures are approximations of the true structure, which cannot be described graphically, but is best represented by a mathematical expression
Elec. a condition arising in an electric circuit in which
the current or voltage flow is at maximum amplitude, produced when the frequency of the electrical source is varied, or
the current or voltage is in phase respectively with the applied current or voltage, or
the natural frequency of the circuit is the same as that of the incoming signal
Med. the sound produced in the percussion of some part of the body, esp. of the chest
Physics
the effect produced when the amplitude of oscillation of a body is greatly increased by a periodic force at the same or nearly the same frequency
a vibration caused by this phenomenon
Phonet. the intensification of, and particular quality given to, a speech sound, resulting from its vibrating in a resonating cavity, as the pharynx, the mouth, or the nose, or a combination of these
See resonance in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(rĕzˈə-nəns)
noun
The quality or condition of being resonant: words that had resonance throughout his life.
Richness or significance, especially in evoking an association or strong emotion: “It is home and family that give resonance . . . to life”(George Gilder).“Israel, gateway to Mecca, is of course a land of religious resonance and geopolitical significance”(James Wolcott).
Physics The increase in amplitude of oscillation of an electric or mechanical system exposed to a periodic force whose frequency is equal or very close to the natural undamped frequency of the system.
Physics A subatomic particle lasting too short a time to be observed directly. The existence of such particles is usually inferred from a peak in the energy distribution of its decay products.
Acoustics Intensification and prolongation of sound, especially of a musical tone, produced by sympathetic vibration.
Linguistics Intensification of vocal tones during articulation, as by the air cavities of the mouth and nasal passages.
Medicine The sound produced by diagnostic percussion of the normal chest.
Chemistry The property of a compound having simultaneously the characteristics of two or more structural forms that differ only in the distribution of electrons. Such compounds are highly stable and cannot be properly represented by a single structural formula.