reverberate

Meanings

1. To cause (a sound) to be (repeatedly) bounced against one or more surfaces; to re-echo.
2. Followed by on (to): to deflect or divert (flames, heat, etc.) on to something.
3. To heat (something) by deflecting flames on to, or passing flames over, it.
4. To repeatedly reflect (heat, light, or other radiation).
5. To drive, force, or push (someone or something) back; to repel, to repulse.
6. To send (something) back from where it came.
7. Of light or sound: to fall on or hit (a surface or other thing); also, to fill or spread throughout (a space or other thing).
8. To beat or hit (something) repeatedly.
9. Of sound: to (repeatedly) bounce against one or more surfaces; to echo or re-echo, to resound.
10. Chiefly followed by to or with: of a place or thing: to ring or vibrate with many echoing sounds; to re-echo, to resound.
11. Often followed by from: of heat or (less commonly) light: to be (repeatedly) reflected.
12. Of information, news, etc.: to be spread widely through repetition.

1. Synonym of reverberant (“that tends to reverberate (“(repeatedly) bounce against one or more surfaces”) or has reverberated”); re-echoed.
2. Ringing or vibrating with many echoing sounds; re-echoing, resounding, reverberating.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin reverberātus, perfect passive participle of reverberō (“to rebound; to reflect; to repel”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), whence Middle French reverberer (French réverbérer) and Middle English reverberen (“to send back”)), from re- (prefix meaning ‘again’) and verberō (“to beat; to lash, whip”) (from verber (“rod; lash, whip”) + -ō (suffix forming regular first-conjugation verbs)).

Translations