resonator

This term describes a physical object designed to capture and reinforce specific vibrations. It is most common in acoustics and electronics, where the goal is to maximize the amplitude of a particular frequency while ignoring others. It implies a precise relationship between the shape of the object and the sound it produces. In a technical sense, a resonator is not a source of sound itself but a modifier that gives a sound its characteristic richness or volume. It is used in contexts ranging from the wooden body of a violin to the quartz crystals in a digital watch, shifting from a musical quality to a high-precision timing function.