Reflected sounds that return to the listener after bouncing off surfaces. Can also refer to repeated ideas, themes, or influences that reflect something earlier.
From Greek 'echo,' originally the name of a nymph in mythology who could only repeat others' words. The scientific understanding of sound reflection came later, but kept the mythological name.
The myth of Echo explains why we hear our voices bounce back in empty spaces - she was cursed to only repeat what others said. This poetic origin makes 'echo' one of the few scientific terms that preserves an ancient story about human communication.
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