echo
UK[ˈekəʊ]US[ˈekoʊ]
n
A sound that is heard after it has been reflected off a surface such as a wall or a cliff.
n
A detail or idea that repeats or resembles something from an earlier time or source.
v
To be filled with sounds that are repeated or reflected.
v
To repeat or imitate something, such as words, ideas, or feelings.
Etymology
The word 'echo' entered English in the 14th century via Latin from the Greek 'ēkhō', meaning 'a reflected sound'. In Greek mythology, Echo was a nymph who pined away for love until only her voice remained. The Greek term itself is likely onomatopoeic, imitating the nature of the sound it describes. This direct borrowing from Greek, through Latin and Old French, has preserved its core meaning of a repeating sound while expanding metaphorically to signify any repetition or imitation.
Analysis
The word 'echo' is a simplex loanword from Greek. It does not contain separable, productive morphemes in modern English spelling.
Examples
The shout came back as a faint echo from the canyon walls.
His speech contained clear echoes of his predecessor's policies.
The hallway echoed with the sound of footsteps.