Echo /(ĕk"ō̇)/

Ech·o

Echo

n.

pl. Echoes ((ĕk"ōz))

  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.
    The woods shall answer, and the echo ring.
  2. Fig.: Sympathetic recognition; response; answer.
    Fame is the echo of actions, resounding them.
    Many kind, and sincere speeches found an echo in his heart.
    — R. L. Stevenson.
  3. A wood or mountain nymph, regarded as repeating, and causing the reverberation of them. (Myth. & Poetic)
    Sweet Echo, sweetest nymph, that liv'st unseen Within thy airy shell.
  4. A nymph, the daughter of Air and Earth, who, for love of Narcissus, pined away until nothing was left of her but her voice. (Gr. Myth.)
    Compelled me to awake the courteous Echo To give me answer from her mossy couch.
  5. A signal, played in the same manner as a trump signal, made by a player who holds four or more trumps (or as played by some exactly three trumps) and whose partner has led trumps or signaled for trumps. (Whist, Contract Bridge)
    I would applaud thee to the very echo, That should applaud again.

Phrases & Compounds
Echo organ
a set organ pipes inclosed in a box so as to produce a soft, distant effect; -- generally superseded by the swell.
Echo stop
a stop upon a harpsichord contrived for producing the soft effect of distant sound.
To applaud to the echo
to give loud and continuous applause.

Echo

v. t.

imp. & p. p. Echoed; p. pr. & vb. n. Echoing; 3d pers. sing. pres. Echoes

  1. To send back (a sound); to repeat in sound; to reverberate.
    Those peals are echoed by the Trojan throng.
    The wondrous sound Is echoed on forever.
  2. To repeat with assent; to respond; to adopt.
    They would have echoed the praises of the men whom they envied, and then have sent to the newspaper anonymous libels upon them.

Echo

v. i.
  1. To give an echo; to resound; to be sounded back; as, the hall echoed with acclamations.