standing wave

noun

: a single-frequency mode of vibration of a body or physical system in which the amplitude varies from place to place, is constantly zero at fixed points, and has maxima at other points

Examples of standing wave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The combination of multiple such diffractions creates a 2D standing wave. Susumu Noda, IEEE Spectrum, 14 Apr. 2024 More:Why the opening of the world's largest standing wave pool is a 'touchy situation' in Hawaii A 2022 outreach video by the military notes people might come across unexploded ordnance under leaves or sand, or partially buried, and the items may be rusty. Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 2 May 2023 During expansion, right after the Big Bang, gravitational waves may have built on each other to create huge standing waves of gravitational energy. Jackie Appel, Popular Mechanics, 18 Apr. 2023 The standing wave termination structure now efficiently eliminate standing waves while minimizing the use of acoustic damping material. Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2021 Coating the film with transparent electrodes enabled them to excite the crystal, setting up an acoustic standing wave that modulates the intensity of light passing through it. IEEE Spectrum, 8 Mar. 2023 Traditionally, acoustic levitation involves blasting identical sound waves from two sources—top and bottom—to create a standing wave. Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 15 Aug. 2016 This can cause standing waves to form in the airflow, much like a standing wave forms in the lee of a rock in a rapidly flowing stream. Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 7 Jan. 2015 The setup created a standing wave between the sphere and transducers, which elevated the object while keeping it in place. Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 15 Aug. 2016

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'standing wave.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of standing wave was in 1845

Dictionary Entries Near standing wave

Cite this Entry

“Standing wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standing%20wave. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

standing wave

noun
: a vibration of a body or physical system in which the amplitude varies from place to place, is constantly zero at fixed points, and does not appear to move

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