Adjacent Words

Resonance definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

RES'ONANCE, n. s as z. [L. resonans.]
1. A resounding; a sound returned from the sides of a hollow instrument of music; reverberated sound or sounds.
2. A sound returned.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an excited state of a stable particle causing a sharp maximum in the probability of absorption of electromagnetic radiation
2: a vibration of large amplitude produced by a relatively small vibration near the same frequency of vibration as the natural frequency of the resonating system
3: having the character of a loud deep sound; the quality of being resonant [syn: plangency, resonance, reverberance, ringing, sonorousness, sonority, vibrancy]
4: a relationship of mutual understanding or trust and agreement between people [syn: rapport, resonance]
5: the quality imparted to voiced speech sounds by the action of the resonating chambers of the throat and mouth and nasal cavities

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English resonaunce, from Middle French resonance, from resoner to resound — more at resound Date: 15th century 1. a. the quality or state of being resonant b. (1) a vibration of large amplitude in a mechanical or electrical system caused by a relatively small periodic stimulus of the same or nearly the same period as the natural vibration period of the system (2) the state of adjustment that produces resonance in a mechanical or electrical system 2. a. the intensification and enriching of a musical tone by supplementary vibration b. a quality imparted to voiced sounds by vibration in anatomical resonating chambers or cavities (as the mouth or the nasal cavity) c. a quality of richness or variety d. a quality of evoking response <how much resonance the scandal seems to be having — U.S. News & World Report> 3. the sound elicited on percussion of the chest 4. the conceptual alternation of a chemical species (as a molecule or ion) between two or more equivalent allowed structural representations differing only in the placement of electrons that aids in understanding the actual state of the species as an amalgamation of its possible structures and the usually higher-than-expected stability of the species 5. a. the enhancement of an atomic, nuclear, or particle reaction or a scattering event by excitation of internal motion in the system b. magnetic resonance 6. an extremely short-lived elementary particle 7. a synchronous gravitational relationship of two celestial bodies (as moons) that orbit a third (as a planet) which can be expressed as a simple ratio of their orbital periods

Britannica Concise

In physics, the relatively large selective response of an object or a system that vibrates in step with an externally applied vibration. Acoustical resonance is the vibration induced in a string of a given pitch when a note of the same pitch is produced nearby, in the sound box of an instrument such as a guitar, or in the mouth or nasal cavity when speaking. Mechanical resonance, such as that produced in a bridge by wind or by marching soldiers, can eventually produce wide swings great enough to cause the bridge's destruction. Resonance in frequency-sensitive electrical circuits makes it possible for certain communication devices to accept signals of some frequencies while rejecting others. Magnetic resonance occurs when electrons or atomic nuclei respond to the application of magnetic fields by emitting or absorbing electromagnetic radiation. See also nuclear magnetic resonance.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

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)

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Resonance Res"o*nance (r?z"?-nans), n. [Cf. F. r['e]sonance, L. resonantia an echo.] 1. The act of resounding; the quality or state of being resonant. 2. (Acoustics) 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. 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.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Resonance Res"o*nance, n. 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.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(resonances) 1. If something has a resonance for someone, it has a special meaning or is particularly important to to them. The ideas of order, security, family, religion and country had the same resonance for them as for Michael. N-VAR 2. If a sound has resonance, it is deep, clear, and strong. His voice had lost its resonance; it was tense and strained.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Reverberation.

Moby Thesaurus

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