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resonance

n.
US //ˈɹɛzənəns// UK //ɹˈɛzənəns// res·o·nance
  1. 1 sound quality (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic Music

    the quality of a sound being deep, full, and lasting for a long time.

    the quality of being resonant; the intensification and enrichment of a musical tone by supplementary vibration.

    Example

    The singer's voice had a beautiful resonance that filled the entire concert hall.

    Example

    The cello's deep resonance was enhanced by the wooden floors of the chamber, creating an immersive acoustic experience for the audience.
  2. 2 emotional impact (n.)
    C1 Advanced Academic

    the power of an idea or feeling to be important to you or to remind you of something.

    the power to evoke enduring images, memories, or emotions; the quality of 'striking a chord' with an audience.

    Example

    The old stories still have a lot of resonance for people living today.

    Example

    The poet's metaphors carry a particular resonance for those who have experienced the displacement of war and migration.
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  1. 3 physical vibration (n.)
    C1 Advanced Technical Science

    when an object vibrates more strongly because it is hit by a force at a specific speed.

    the increase in amplitude of oscillation when a system is exposed to a periodic force whose frequency matches its natural frequency.

    Example

    The bridge began to shake because the wind hit it at just the right resonance.

    Example

    Engineers must account for mechanical resonance to ensure that the building's structural integrity is not compromised during high-frequency seismic events.
  2. 4 orbital influence (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Astronomy

    the way the gravity of one planet or moon affects the path of another.

    the gravitational influence of two orbiting bodies on each other when their orbital periods are related by a ratio of small integers.

    Example

    The moons of Jupiter are locked in a resonance that keeps their orbits stable.

    Example

    The 2:3 orbital resonance between Pluto and Neptune prevents the two bodies from colliding despite their intersecting paths.

  3. 5 chemical structure (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Chemistry

    a way of describing a molecule that can be shown in more than one way.

    the representation of the electronic structure of a molecule as a hybrid of two or more contributing structures.

    Example

    The resonance of the benzene ring explains why the molecule is so stable.

    Example

    Resonance theory allows chemists to predict the stability and reactivity of aromatic compounds by averaging several Lewis structures.

Origin

From Old French resonance (French résonance), from Latin resonantia (“echo”), from resonō (“I resound”).

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