Origin: Latin suffix -ance
Resonance has 6 different meanings across 1 category:
an excited state of a stable particle causing a sharp maximum in the probability of absorption of electromagnetic radiation
"The experimental data revealed a resonance where the nucleus entered an excited state, resulting in a sharp peak in its probability of absorbing gamma rays."
a vibration of large amplitude produced by a relatively small vibration near the same frequency of vibration as the natural frequency of the resonating system
"When an opera singer hits a note matching her glass's natural frequency, even the softest hum creates a powerful resonance that shatters it."
having the character of a loud deep sound; the quality of being resonant
"The hollow drum produced a striking resonance that echoed through the empty hall."
the quality imparted to voiced speech sounds by the action of the resonating chambers of the throat and mouth and nasal cavities
"The trained singer adjusted her posture to enhance the resonance of her vowel sounds within the oral cavity."
The quality of being resonant.
"The hollow chamber produced a deep resonance when struck by the tuning fork."
In plain English: Resonance is when an object vibrates strongly because it matches the rhythm of another sound or movement around it.
"The deep bass notes created such strong resonance in the empty theater that everyone felt them vibrating in their chests."
The word entered English via the Old French resonance, which borrowed it from the Latin resonantia. Originally meaning "an echo," this term described a sound that is heard again after being reflected.