/ ˈekəʊ; NAmE ˈekoʊ/ noun , verb
■ noun ( pl. -oes )
1.
the reflecting of sound off a wall or inside a confined space so that a noise appears to be repeated; a sound that is reflected back in this way :
There was an echo on the line and I couldn't hear clearly.
The hills sent back a faint echo.
the echo of footsteps running down the corridor
2.
the fact of an idea, event, etc. being like another and reminding you of it; sth that reminds you of sth else :
Yesterday's crash has grim echoes of previous disasters.
3.
an opinion or attitude that agrees with or repeats one already expressed or thought :
His words were an echo of what she had heard many times before.
The speech found an echo in the hearts of many of the audience (= they agreed with it) .
■ verb ( echoes , echo·ing , echoed , echoed )
1.
[ v ] if a sound echoes , it is reflected off a wall, the side of a mountain, etc. so that you can hear it again
SYN reverberate :
Her footsteps echoed in the empty room.
The gunshot echoed through the forest.
2.
echo (to / with sth) | echo sth (back) to send back and repeat a sound; to be full of a sound
SYN reverberate :
[ v ]
The whole house echoed.
The street echoed with the cries of children.
[ vn ]
The valley echoed back his voice.
3.
[ vn ] to repeat an idea or opinion because you agree with it :
This is a view echoed by many on the right of the party.
4.
to repeat what sb else has just said, especially because you find it surprising :
[ v speech ]
'He's gone!' Viv echoed.
[also vn ]
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WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : from Old French or Latin , from Greek ēkhō , related to ēkhē a sound.