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

The closest analogy is sound waves traveling in a fluid. —Lyndie Chiou, Scientific American, 20 June 2023

Soundwaves is a 501c3 art studio and philanthropic foundation that creates pieces of art from the sound waves of famous songs and moments by teaming with the talent behind those moments to autograph each piece. —Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2023

While the speed of its initial vibration affects the pitch of the sound wave, the strength of its initial vibration affects its intensity. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 17 Oct. 2023

The sound waves hit these five-foot-deep cones and get trapped. —Charlotte Hu, Popular Science, 7 Sep. 2023

However, on other occasions, the sound waves survived the microscopic vacuum journey unaffected. —Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 23 Aug. 2023

Crawford’s looping forms suggest natural phenomena, whether sound waves, sand dunes, or animal skins and shells. —Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 27 Oct. 2023

Conventional—and bulky—ultrasound scanning machines use piezoelectric materials (which convert electrical signals into movement) to send out sound waves that penetrate the body. —Simon Makin, Scientific American, 17 Oct. 2023

The Apollo wearable, for example, is a device worn on the wrist or ankle that emits silent, vibrating sound waves that reportedly help balance the nervous system. —Jennifer Chesak, Verywell Health, 12 Oct. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

sound wave

noun

1

: sound sense 1

2

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