Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense echoes, present participle echoing, past tense, past participle echoed
1. countable noun
An echo is a sound which is caused by a noise being reflected off a surface such as a wall.
He listened and heard nothing but the echoes of his own voice in the cave. [+ of]
Synonyms: reverberation, ringing, repetition, answer More Synonyms of echo
2. verb
If a sound echoes, it is reflected off a surface and can be heard again after the original sound has stopped.
His feet echoed on the bare board floor. [VERB]
The bang came suddenly, echoing across the buildings, shattering glass. [VERB preposition/adverb]
3. verb
In a place that echoes, a sound is reflected off a surface, and is repeated after the original sound hasstopped.
The room echoed. [VERB]
The corridor echoed with the barking of a dozen dogs. [VERB + with]
...the bare stone floors and the echoing hall. [VERB-ing]
[Also + in]
4. verb
If you echo someone's words, you repeat them or express agreement with their attitude or opinion.
Many phrases in the last two chapters echo earlier passages. [VERB noun]
Their views often echo each other. [VERB noun]
'That was a truly delicious piece of lamb,' he said. 'Yes, wasn't it?' echoed Penelope. [VERB with quote]
Synonyms: recall, reflect, copy, mirror More Synonyms of echo
5. countable noun [usually with supplement]
An echo is an expression of an attitude, opinion, or statement which has already been expressed.
I hear an echo of the thinking that got us into this mess in the first place.
Political attacks work only if they find an echo with voters.
6. countable noun
A detail or feature which reminds you of something else can be referred to as an echo.
The accident has echoes of past disasters. [+ of]
Synonyms: reminder, suggestion, trace, hint More Synonyms of echo
7. verb
If one thing echoes another, the first is a copy of a particular detail or feature of the other.
Pinks and beiges were chosen to echo the colours of the ceiling. [VERB noun]
8. verb
If something echoes, it continues to be discussed and remains important or influential in a particular situation or among a particular group of people.
The old fable continues to echo down the centuries. [VERB preposition]
More Synonyms of echo
echo in British English
(ˈɛkəʊ)
nounWord forms: plural-oes
1.
a.
the reflection of sound or other radiation by a reflecting medium, esp a solid object
b.
the sound so reflected
2.
a repetition or imitation, esp an unoriginal reproduction of another's opinions
3.
something that evokes memories, esp of a particular style or era
4. (sometimes plural)
an effect that continues after the original cause has disappeared; repercussion
the echoes of the French Revolution
5.
a person who copies another, esp one who obsequiously agrees with another's opinions
6.
a.
the signal reflected by a radar target
b.
the trace produced by such a signal on a radar screen
7.
the repetition of certain sounds or syllables in a verse line
8.
the quiet repetition of a musical phrase
9. 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
10.
an electronic effect in recorded music that adds vibration or resonance
verbWord forms: -oes, -oing or -oed
11.
to resound or cause to resound with an echo
the cave echoed their shouts
12. (intransitive)
(of sounds) to repeat or resound by echoes; reverberate
13. (transitive)
(of persons) to repeat (words, opinions, etc), in imitation, agreement, or flattery
14. (transitive)
(of things) to resemble or imitate (another style, earlier model, etc)
15. (transitive)
(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
Derived forms
echoing (ˈechoing)
adjective
echoless (ˈecholess)
adjective
echo-like (ˈecho-ˌlike)
adjective
Word origin
C14: via Latin from Greek ēkhō; related to Greek ēkhē sound
Echo in British English1
(ˈɛkəʊ)
noun
either of two US passive communications satellites, the first of which was launched in 1960
Echo in British English2
(ˈɛkəʊ)
noun
Greek mythology
a nymph who, spurned by Narcissus, pined away until only her voice remained
Echo in British English3
(ˈɛkəʊ)
noun
communications
code word for the letter e
echo in American English
(ˈɛkoʊ)
nounWord forms: pluralˈechoes
1.
a.
the repetition of a sound by reflection of sound waves from a surface
b.
a sound so produced
2.
a.
any repetition or imitation of the words, style, ideas, etc. of another
b.
a person who thus repeats or imitates
3.
sympathetic response
4. Electronics
a radar wave reflected from an object, appearing as a spot of light on a radarscope
5. [E-]; Greek Mythology
a nymph who, because of her unreturned love for Narcissus, pines away until only her voice remains
6. Music
a.
a soft repetition of a phrase
b.
an organ stop for producing the effect of echo
7. Radio and Television
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
verb intransitiveWord forms: ˈechoed or ˈechoing
8.
to resound with an echo; reverberate
9.
to be repeated as or like an echo
verb transitive
10.
a.
to repeat (another's words, ideas, etc.)
b.
to repeat the words, etc. of (another person)
11.
to repeat or reflect (sound) from a surface
Derived forms
echoey (echoˌey) (ˈɛkoʊˌi)
adjective
Word origin
ME ecco < L echo < Gr ēchō < IE base *(s)waĝh-, var. of *wag-, to cry out > L vagire, OE swogan, to sound, roar
More idioms containing
echo
cheer someone to the echo
Examples of 'echo' in a sentence
echo
Water was cascading through a hole in the ceiling into the lobby, its echo filling the empty space.
Mark Burnell CHAMELEON (2002)
He shouted a couple of times and heard nothing but the muffled echo of his own voice.
Terman, Douglas CORMORANT (2002)
The watchman thought he could hear a new shading in her words now, the echo of a forlorn pain that had no bottom.
Heller, Keith MAN'S LOVING FAMILY (2002)
The clicking sound of the lock seemed to echo in the basement.
Locke, Joseph THE TEACHER (2002)
Word lists with
echo
code words, Characters in classical mythology
In other languages
echo
British English: echo /ˈɛkəʊ/ NOUN
An echo is a sound caused by a noise being reflected off a surface such as a wall.
He heard the echo of her footsteps along the hallway.
American English: echo
Arabic: صَدَى
Brazilian Portuguese: eco
Chinese: 回声
Croatian: odjek
Czech: ozvěna
Danish: ekko
Dutch: echo
European Spanish: eco
Finnish: kaiku
French: écho
German: Echo
Greek: ηχώ
Italian: eco
Japanese: 反響
Korean: 메아리
Norwegian: ekko
Polish: echo
European Portuguese: eco
Romanian: ecou
Russian: эхо
Latin American Spanish: eco
Swedish: eko
Thai: เสียงสะท้อน
Turkish: yankı
Ukrainian: луна
Vietnamese: tiếng vọng
British English: echo VERB
sound If a sound echoes, it is reflected off a surface and can be heard again after the original sound has stopped.
His feet echoed on the bare board floor.
American English: echo
Brazilian Portuguese: ressoar
Chinese: 发出回声
European Spanish: resonar
French: résonner
German: widerhallen
Italian: echeggiare
Japanese: こだまする
Korean: 메아리치다
European Portuguese: ressoar
Latin American Spanish: resonar
British English: echo VERB
repeat If you echo someone's words, you repeat them or express agreement with their attitude or opinion.
Their views often echo each other.
American English: echo
Brazilian Portuguese: ecoar
Chinese: 呼应
European Spanish: repetir
French: se faire l'écho de
German: wiederholen
Italian: fare eco a
Japanese: 同調する
Korean: 그대로 반영하다
European Portuguese: ecoar
Latin American Spanish: repetir
All related terms of 'echo'
re-echo
to echo (a sound that is already an echo); resound
echo stop
the reflection of sound or other radiation by a reflecting medium , esp a solid object
echo word
a word that is → echoic (sense 2 ) , or onomatopoeic
pre-echo
something that has preceded and anticipated something else; precursor
tape echo
a means of delaying the repeat of a sound by adjusting the time lapse between the recording and playback heads of a tape recorder
echo organ
the reflection of sound or other radiation by a reflecting medium , esp a solid object
echo plate
(in sound recording or broadcasting ) an electromechanical device for producing echo and reverberation effects
echo chamber
a room with walls that reflect sound. It is used to make acoustic measurements and as a source of reverberant sound to be mixed with direct sound for recording or broadcasting
echo sounder
a navigation and position-finding device that determines depth by measuring the time taken for a pulse of high-frequency sound to reach the sea bed or a submerged object and for the echo to return
echo sounding
the determining of depth of water by means of a device ( echo sounder ) that measures the time required for a sound wave to be reflected from the bottom : a similar process ( echo ranging ) is used to measure the distance to an underwater object
reecho
to echo back or again; resound
echovirus
any of a group of viruses that can cause symptoms of mild meningitis , the common cold, or infections of the intestinal and respiratory tracts
echolocation
Echolocation is a system used by some animals to determine the position of an object by measuring how long it takes for an echo to return from the object.
cheer someone to the echo
to applaud someone loudly for a long time
echoes
the reflection of sound or other radiation by a reflecting medium , esp a solid object
Chinese translation of 'echo'
echo
(ˈɛkəu)
Word forms:plechoes
n(c)
[of sound]回音 (huíyīn) (个(個), gè)
[of opinion, attitude]共鸣(鳴) (gòngmíng)
vt
(fig, = repeat) 重复(複) (chóngfù)
vi
[sound]发(發)出回声(聲) (fāchū huíshēng)
[cave, room]产(產)生回(迴)响(響) (chǎnshēng huíxiǎng)
1 (noun)
Definition
a sound reflected by a solid object
I heard nothing but the echoes of my own voice in the cave.
Synonyms
reverberation
He heard the reverberation of the slammed door.
ringing
repetition
He wants to avoid repetition of the confusion.
answer
resonance
resounding
2 (noun)
Definition
a repetition or imitation of someone else's opinions
Their cover version is just a pale echo of the real thing.
Synonyms
copy
Always keep a copy of everything in your own files.
reflection
Meg stared at her reflection in the mirror.
clone
reproduction
a reproduction of a religious painting
imitation
the most accurate imitation of Chinese architecture in Europe
duplicate
Enclosed is a duplicate of the invoice we sent you last month.
double
Your mother sees you as her double.
reiteration
3 (noun)
Definition
something that brings back memories
The accident has echoes of past disasters.
Synonyms
reminder
suggestion
that fashionably faint suggestion of a tan
trace
Wash them in cold water to remove all traces of sand.
hint
I'd dropped a hint about having an exhibition of his work.
recollection
vestige
She had lost every vestige of her puppy fat.
evocation
intimation
I did not have any intimation that he was going to resign.
4 (noun)
Synonyms
repercussion
consequence
Her lawyers said she understood the consequences of her actions.
aftermath
aftereffect
He was suffering from shock as well as from the after-effects of drugs.
1 (verb)
Definition
(of a place) to be filled with a sound and its echoes
The rumble of thunder echoed through the valley.
Synonyms
reverberate
A woman's laughter reverberated in the courtyard.
repeat
I repeated the story to a delighted audience.
resound
The soldiers' boots resounded in the street.
ring
The whole place was ringing with music.
resonate
The bass guitar began to resonate in my head.
2 (verb)
Definition
(of people) to repeat or imitate (what someone else has said)
Many phrases in the last chapter echo earlier passages.
Synonyms
recall
reflect
The glass appears to reflect light naturally.
copy
We all tend to copy people we admire.
coquettish gestures which she had copied from actresses in soap operas
mirror
His own shock was mirrored in her face.
resemble
She so resembles her mother.
reproduce
The effect has proved hard to reproduce.
parrot
Many politicians simply parrot impressive-sounding phrases.
imitate
a precedent which may be imitated by other activists
reiterate
ape
These films merely ape Hollywood.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of aftereffect
Definition
any result occurring some time after its cause
He was suffering from shock as well as from the after-effects of drugs.
Synonyms
consequence,
wake,
trail,
aftermath,
hangover (informal),
spin-off,
repercussion,
afterglow,
aftershock,
delayed response
in the sense of ape
Definition
to imitate
These films merely ape Hollywood.
Synonyms
imitate,
copy,
mirror,
echo,
mock,
parrot,
mimic,
parody,
caricature,
affect,
counterfeit
in the sense of consequence
Definition
a logical result or effect
Her lawyers said she understood the consequences of her actions.