echo Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the repetition of a sound resulting from reflection of the sound waves
    replication; sound reflection; reverberation.
    • she could hear echoes of her own footsteps
  2. noun (Greek mythology) a nymph who was spurned by Narcissus and pined away until only her voice remained
  3. noun a reply that repeats what has just been said
  4. noun a reflected television or radio or radar beam
  5. noun a close parallel of a feeling, idea, style, etc.
    • his contention contains more than an echo of Rousseau
    • Napoleon III was an echo of the mighty Emperor but an infinitely better man
  6. noun an imitation or repetition
    • the flower arrangement was created as an echo of a client's still life
  7. verb to say again or imitate
    repeat.
    • followers echoing the cries of their leaders
  8. verb ring or echo with sound
    reverberate; ring; resound.
    • the hall resounded with laughter
  9. verb call to mind
    recall.
    • His words echoed John F. Kennedy

WordNet

Ech"o noun
Etymology
L. echo, Gr. echo, sound, akin to , , sound, noise; cf. Skr. va to sound, bellow; perh. akin to E. voice: cf. F. écho.
Wordforms
plural Echoes
Definitions
  1. A sound reflected from an opposing surface and repeated to the ear of a listener; repercussion of sound; repetition of a sound.
    The babbling echo mocks the hounds. Shak.
    The woods shall answer, and the echo ring. Pope.
  2. Fig.: Sympathetic recognition; response; answer.
    Fame is the echo of actions, resounding them. Fuller.
    Many kind, and sincere speeches found an echo in his heart. R. L. Stevenson.
  3. (a) (Myth. & Poetic) A wood or mountain nymph, regarded as repeating, and causing the reverberation of them.
    Sweet Echo, sweetest nymph, that liv'st unseen Within thy airy shell. Milton.
    (b) (Gr. Myth.) A nymph, the daughter of Air and Earth, who, for love of Narcissus, pined away until nothing was left of her but her voice.
    Compelled me to awake the courteous Echo To give me answer from her mossy couch. Milton.
    M. Arnold.
    I would applaud thee to the very echo, That should applaud again. Shak.
Ech"o transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Echoed ; present participle & verbal noun Echoing -- 3rd person singular present Echoes
Definitions
  1. To send back (a sound); to repeat in sound; to reverberate.
    Those peals are echoed by the Trojan throng. Dryden.
    The wondrous sound Is echoed on forever. Keble.
  2. To repeat with assent; to respond; to adopt.
    They would have echoed the praises of the men whom they nvied, and then have sent to the newspaper anonymous libels upon them. Macaulay.
Ech"o intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To give an echo; to resound; to be sounded back; as, the hall echoed with acclamations. "Echoing noise." Blackmore.

Webster 1913