gravitational wave
noun
: a disturbance in space-time in the form of a wave that propagates the gravitational field
Gravitational waves are a natural offshoot of the rubber-sheet construction of general relativity. Just as a massive object sitting on the fabric of spacetime creates a dimple, so moving or changing objects, under certain conditions, create wrinkles in the fabric. Those wrinkles, tiny distortions in spacetime, zoom away at the speed of light. Because these gravitational waves carry energy, anything emitting them will lose a tiny bit of its speed.—
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Although gravitational wave detections have provided indirect evidence for black hole pairs and their eventual mergers, OJ287's two black holes had never been resolved visually, as telescopes simply lacked the resolution to distinguish them from a single point of light.
—Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
The research team at Cardiff University took a bold step toward understanding the quantum nature of gravity by setting new limits on the existence of very high-frequency gravitational waves.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
In fact, during the first period of the fourth observing run (known as O4A), LIGO saw more gravitational wave events than from all previous observing runs combined.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 17 Sep. 2025
The historic finding comes about a decade after the first detection of gravitational waves performed by a famous instrument known as LIGO.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
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Sharmila Kuthunur, Space.com, 10 Oct. 2025
The research team at Cardiff University took a bold step toward understanding the quantum nature of gravity by setting new limits on the existence of very high-frequency gravitational waves.
—Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2025
In fact, during the first period of the fourth observing run (known as O4A), LIGO saw more gravitational wave events than from all previous observing runs combined.
—Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 17 Sep. 2025
The historic finding comes about a decade after the first detection of gravitational waves performed by a famous instrument known as LIGO.
—Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gravitational wave
Cite this Entry
“Gravitational wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gravitational%20wave. Accessed 15 Oct. 2025.
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