sound wave

noun

1

: sound entry 1 sense 1a

2

sound waves plural : longitudinal pressure waves in any material medium regardless of whether they constitute audible sound

earthquake waves and ultrasonic waves are sometimes called sound waves

Examples of sound wave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

With nothing but snow for sound waves to echo off, there’s an eerie silence. — Tyce Deyoung, The Conversation, 6 Oct. 2026

At the same 5-GHz frequency, a sound wave's wavelength collapses from centimeters, as is the case with light, to a couple of micrometers, roughly four orders of magnitude smaller. — New Atlas, 23 Sep. 2026

The test uses sound waves to look at the parotid and submandibular glands. — Julie Scott, Verywell Health, 15 Sep. 2026

The device allows the sound waves to penetrate the skull without so much as a needle poke or incision and without causing any damage to surrounding bone or tissue in the process. — Kristen Jordan Shamus, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sound wave

• agave
• behave
• concave
• conclave
• enclave
• engrave
• enslave
• forgave
• landgrave
• margrave
• shortwave
• aftershave

Medical Definition

sound wave

noun

1

: sound sense 1

2

sound waves plural : longitudinal pressure waves especially when transmitting audible sound