resonance

• POS: Noun
• HYPHEN: res=o=nance

CIDE DICTIONARY

resonance, n. [Cf. F. résonance, L. resonantia an echo.].

•  The act of resounding; the quality or state of being resonant.  [1913 Webster]
•  A prolongation or increase of any sound, either by reflection, as in a cavern or apartment the walls of which are not distant enough to return a distinct echo, or by the production of vibrations in other bodies, as a sounding-board, or the bodies of musical instruments.  [1913 Webster]
•  A phenomenon in which a vibration or other cyclic process (such as tide cycles) of large amplitude is produced by smaller impulses, when the frequency of the external impulses is close to that of the natural cycling frequency of the process in that system.

  "The shattering of a glass object when impinged upon by sound of a certain frequency is one example of this phenomenon; another is the very large tides in certain basins such as that of the Bay of Fundy, which has a natural cycling frequency close to that of the tidal cycle."  [PJC]
•  An electric phenomenon corresponding to that of acoustic resonance, due to the existance of certain relations of the capacity, inductance, resistance, and frequency of an alternating circuit; the tuning of a radio transmitter or receiver to send or detect waves of specific frequencies depends on this phenomenon.  [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Pulmonary resonance (Med.), the sound heard on percussing over the lungs. -- Vocal resonance (Med.), the sound transmitted to the ear when auscultation is made while the patient is speaking.

OXFORD DICTIONARY

resonance, n.
1 the reinforcement or prolongation of sound by reflection or synchronous vibration.
2 Mech. a condition in which an object or system is subjected to an oscillating force having a frequency close to its own natural frequency.
3 Chem. the property of a molecule having a structure best represented by two or more forms rather than a single structural formula.
4 Physics a short-lived elementary particle that is an excited state of a more stable particle.

Etymology

OF f. L resonantia echo (as RESONANT)

THESAURUS

resonance

amplitude, antinode, crest, de Broglie wave, diffraction, electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic wave, fluctuation, frequency, frequency band, frequency spectrum, guided wave, harmonic motion, in phase, interference, libration, light, longitudinal wave, mechanical wave, node, nutation, oscillation, out of phase, pendulation, period, periodic wave, periodicity, radio wave, ray, reinforcement, resonance frequency, seismic wave, shock wave, sound wave, surface wave, tidal wave, transverse wave, trough, vacillation, vibrancy, vibratility, vibration, wave, wave equation, wave motion, wave number, wavelength, wavering

ROGET THESAURUS

resonance

Sound

N sound, noise, strain, accent, twang, intonation, tone, cadence, sonorousness, audibility, resonance, voice, aspirate, ideophone, rough breathing, acoustics, phonics, phonetics, phonology, phonography, diacoustics, diaphonics, phonetism, sounding, soniferous, sonorous, sonorific, resonant, audible, distinct, stertorous, phonetic, phonic, phonocamptic, a thousand trills and quivering sounds, forensis strepitus.

Loudness

N loudness, power, loud noise, din, blare, clang, clangor, clatter, noise, bombilation, roar, uproar, racket, hubbub, bobbery, fracas, charivari, trumpet blast, flourish of trumpets, fanfare, tintamarre, peal, swell, blast, larum, boom, bang (explosion), resonance, vociferation, hullabaloo, lungs, Stentor, artillery, cannon, thunder, loud, sonorous, high-sounding, big-sounding, deep, full, powerful, noisy, blatant, clangorous, multisonous, thundering, deafening, trumpet-tongued, ear-splitting, ear-rending, ear-deafening, piercing, obstreperous, rackety, uproarious, enough to wake the dead, enough to wake seven sleepers, shrill &c 410 clamorous stentorian, stentorophonic, loudly, aloud, at the top of one's voice, at the top of one's lungs, lustily, in full cry, the air rings with, the deep dread-bolted thunder.

Resonance

N resonance, ring, ringing, tintinabulation, reflexion, reflection, reverberation, echo, reecho, zap, zot, buzz (hiss), low note, base note, bass note, flat note, grave note, deep note, bass, basso, basso profondo, baritone, barytone, contralto, echo chamber, resonator, tinnitus, bell, doorbell, buzzer, gong, cymbals (musical instruments), sympathetic vibrations, natural frequency, coupled vibration frequency, overtone, resonating cavity, sounding board, tuning fork, tuning, squelch, frequency selection, resonator, resonator circuit, radio resonant structure, aromaticity, alternating double bonds, non-bonded resonance, pi clouds, unsaturation, double bond, (valence), resounding, resonant, reverberant, tinnient, tintinnabulary, sonorous, booming, deep-toned, deep-sounding, deep-mouthed, vibrant, hollow, sepulchral, gruff, sweet bells jangled, out of time and harsh, echoing down the mountain and through the dell.