Definition

Adjective: 1. Characterized by reverberation; having the quality of resonating or echoing sound. Describes a sound that is deep, full, and continues to be heard as it echoes or vibrates. 2. Capable of or causing reflection or reverberation. Describes a surface or medium that reflects sound, light, or heat waves.

Usage and Examples

• Describing a deep, echoing sound:
  • The reverberative boom of the cathedral's organ filled the entire space.
  • They heard the reverberative clap of thunder long after the lightning flash.
• Describing a reflective or echoing quality:
  • The singer's voice had a powerful, reverberative quality in the empty hall.
  • The reverberative nature of the canyon made even a whisper audible from far away.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Physics Context: In acoustics, a space or material is one that causes sound waves to persist by reflecting them multiple times.
  • The studio was treated with panels to reduce its overly reverberative characteristics.

Variants and Related Words

• Reverberate (verb): To be repeated several times as an echo; to resound.
  • The cheers reverberated through the stadium.
• Reverberation (noun): The persistence of a sound after its source has stopped, caused by multiple reflections; a continuing effect.
  • The reverberation of the gong lasted for nearly a minute.
• Reverberant (adjective): Synonym for , meaning tending to reverberate; resonant.
  • The music sounded rich in the reverberant chamber.

Synonyms

• Resonant
• Echoing
• Resounding
• Sonorous
• Vibrant (in the context of sound)

Antonyms

• Dead (acoustically)
• Muffled
• Muted
• Non-resonant

Adjective

1. characterized by resonance
   • a resonant voice
   • hear the rolling thunder