P-wave

noun

ˈpē-ˌwāv 

: pressure wave

Examples of P-wave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Within three seconds, phones sensed the P-waves of the first quake, said Marc Stogaitis, a principal engineer at Google who works on the early warning system. — Amy Graff, New York Times, 27 June 2026

The system — based on the science behind P-waves — is designed to detect a P-wave and send alerts to your cell phone before the strongest shaking arrives. — Monica Garske, USA Today, 2 Feb. 2026

According to their analysis of the P-waves and S-waves detected by SEIS, there is water in the porous rock, filling the cracks and hollows between 6 and 12 miles (10 and 20 kilometers) deep. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2025

Normally, the P-wave is followed a short time later with a narrow spike called the QRS complex. — Angela Ryan Lee, Verywell Health, 25 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

by shortening

First Known Use

1929, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for P-wave

• brave
• cave
• clave
• crave
• fave
• gave
• grave
• knave
• lave
• nave
• pave
• rave

Medical Definition

P wave

noun

ˈpē-ˌwāv 

: a deflection in an electrocardiographic tracing that represents atrial activity of the heart compare qrs complex, t wave