S wave
noun
: a wave (as from an earthquake) in which the propagated disturbance is a shear in an elastic medium (such as the earth) compare pressure wave
Examples of S wave in a Sentence
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Hough explains further that while the waves themselves travel the same way, in the sense that a P wave is still a P wave, and a S wave is still a S wave, however, their speeds and amplitudes will change depending on the rock type.
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Allison Chinchar, CNN, 20 Dec. 2022
In an earthquake, P waves — or compressional waves — arrive first but usually don’t cause much damage; they’re followed by the S wave, or shear wave.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2022
Also, earthquakes produce two different types of waves: a P wave followed by a stronger, lower-frequency S wave.
—Popular Science, 11 Aug. 2020
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Allison Chinchar, CNN, 20 Dec. 2022
In an earthquake, P waves — or compressional waves — arrive first but usually don’t cause much damage; they’re followed by the S wave, or shear wave.
—Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2022
Also, earthquakes produce two different types of waves: a P wave followed by a stronger, lower-frequency S wave.
—Popular Science, 11 Aug. 2020
Cite this Entry
“S wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/S%20wave. Accessed 19 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
S wave
noun
: the negative downward deflection in the QRS complex of an electrocardiogram that follows the R wave
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