n. [ Cf. F. résonance, L. resonantia an echo. ] 1. The act of resounding; the quality or state of being resonant. [ 1913 Webster ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. (Physics) 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 ]

4. (Electronics) 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. +PJC ]

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. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Resonance. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. resonans, p. pr. of resonare to resound: cf. F. résonnant. See Resound. ] 1. Returning, or capable of returning, sound; fitted to resound; resounding; echoing back. [ 1913 Webster ]

Through every hour of the golden morning, the streets were resonant with female parties of young and old. De Quincey. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Elec.) Adjusted as to dimensions (as an electric circuit) so that currents or electric surgings are produced by the passage of electric waves of a given frequency. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

adv. In a resonant manner. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. & G. ] 1. (Acoustics) Anything which resounds; specifically, a vessel in the form of a cylinder open at one end, or a hollow ball of brass with two apertures, so contrived as to greatly intensify a musical tone by its resonance. It is used for the study and analysis of complex sounds. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Anything that resounds or resonates; specif.: (a) (Teleg.) An open box for containing a sounder and designed to concentrate and amplify the sound. (b) (Elec.) Any of various apparatus for exhibiting or utilizing the effects of resonance in connection with open circuits, as a device having an oscillating circuit which includes a helix of bare copper wire, a variable number of coils of which can be connected in circuit with a condenser and spark gap excited with an induction coil. It is used to create high-frequency electric brush discharges. (c) (Wireless Teleg.) The antenna system and other high-frequency circuits of a receiving apparatus. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]