electromagnetic spectrum

American  

noun

1. the entire spectrum, considered as a continuum, of all kinds of electric, magnetic, and visible radiation, from gamma rays having a wavelength of 0.001 angstrom to long waves having a wavelength of more than 1 million km.

---

electromagnetic spectrum British  

noun

1. the complete range of electromagnetic radiation from the longest radio waves (wavelength 10 ⁵ metres) to the shortest gamma radiation (wavelength 10 ^–13 metre)

---

electromagnetic spectrum Scientific  

1. The entire range of electromagnetic radiation. At one end of the spectrum are gamma rays, which have the shortest wavelengths and high frequencies. At the other end are radio waves, which have the longest wavelengths and low frequencies. Visible light is near the center of the spectrum.

---

electromagnetic spectrum Cultural  

1. The family of electromagnetic waves. The electromagnetic spectrum, starting from the waves with the longest wavelengths (and least energy), consists of radio waves, microwaves, infrared radiation, visible light, ultraviolet radiation, x-rays, and gamma radiation. Members of the family differ from one another only in their wavelength, or frequency. For example, the wavelength of blue light is roughly half that of red light, but the waves corresponding to the two colors are otherwise identical.

---

Etymology

Origin of electromagnetic spectrum

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

The answer is into the electromagnetic spectrum, the borderless zone that is one endless border zone, allowing the free play of ephemeral legislation over fixed, physical bodies.

From Salon

The ultrathin sensor can capture light across the entire electromagnetic spectrum.

From Science Daily

There are also many different types of frequencies from radar, jamming and other signals being broadcast across the electromagnetic spectrum that can interfere with military communications systems, Gunzinger said.

From The Wall Street Journal

This shows that the method is not restricted to a single part of the electromagnetic spectrum, but instead represents a broadly applicable dispersion-engineering framework.

From Science Daily

Depending on where in the electromagnetic spectrum this ruler sits, scientists talk about optical, radio, or terahertz frequency combs.

From Science Daily