wavelength

noun

wave·​length ˈwāv-ˌleŋ(k)th 

1

: the distance in the line of advance of a wave from any one point to the next point of corresponding phase

2

: a particular course or line of thought especially as related to mutual understanding

two people on different wavelengths

Examples of wavelength in a Sentence

Light and sound have different wavelengths.

Recent Examples on the Web

However, stars are always producing more than one wavelength of light. —Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 21 Sep. 2023

Traditionally, the color of a photon (defined by its energy or wavelength) is a given. —Tracy H. Schloemer, IEEE Spectrum, 19 Sep. 2023

For example, a droplet that is one to two microns across (smaller than a red blood cell) should reflect sunlight most efficiently because its diameter is close to the wavelength of most incoming solar radiation. —Douglas Fox, Scientific American, 19 Sep. 2023

This means that the wavelength of gamma radiation can be around 1,000 times smaller than visible light. —WIRED, 8 Sep. 2023

According to Downie, blue light is part of the visible light spectrum with relatively shorter wavelengths and higher energy than other visible light. —Sherri Gordon, Health, 29 Aug. 2023

Of course, there is one big catch—the distance between these two crystals can’t be larger than the wavelength of the sound wave itself. —Darren Orf, Popular Mechanics, 23 Aug. 2023

This is the wavelength of light that the pigment granules in the hogfish absorb best. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 23 Aug. 2023

The images combine data from different wavelengths of light to reveal vast star-forming regions littered among the spiral arms. —Dean Regas, The Enquirer, 8 Sep. 2023

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Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

wavelength

noun

wave·​length ˈwāv-ˌleŋ(k)th 

1

: the distance (as from crest to crest) in the line of advance of a wave from any one point to the next corresponding point

2

: a certain line of thought or behavior that reveals a common understanding

coworkers who are on the same wavelength

Medical Definition

wavelength

noun

wave·​length -ˌleŋ(k)th 

: the distance in the line of advance of a wave from any one point to the next point of corresponding phase

—symbol λ