frequency

[free-kwuhn-see]

noun

plural

frequencies 

1. Also frequence. the state or fact of being frequent; frequent occurrence.

   We are alarmed by the frequency of fires in the neighborhood.

   Synonyms: recurrence, repetition, regularity

2. rate of occurrence.

   The doctor has increased the frequency of his visits.

3. Physics.

   1. the number of periods or regularly occurring events of any given kind in unit of time, usually in one second.

   2. the number of cycles or completed alternations per unit time of a wave or oscillation. F; freq.

4. Mathematics.,  the number of times a value recurs in a unit change of the independent variable of a given function.

5. Statistics.,  the number of items occurring in a given category.

frequency

/ ˈfriːkwənsɪ /

noun

1. the state of being frequent; frequent occurrence

2. the number of times that an event occurs within a given period; rate of recurrence

3. ν.  f. physics the number of times that a periodic function or vibration repeats itself in a specified time, often 1 second. It is usually measured in hertz

4. statistics

   1. the number of individuals in a class ( absolute frequency )

   2. the ratio of this number to the total number of individuals under survey ( relative frequency )

5. ecology

   1. the number of individuals of a species within a given area

   2. the percentage of quadrats that contains individuals of a species

frequency

1. Physics,  The rate at which a repeating event occurs, such as the full cycle of a wave. Frequencies are usually measured in hertz.

2. Physics,  Compare amplitude See also period

3. Mathematics,  The ratio of the number of occurrences of some event to the number of opportunities for its occurrence.

frequency

1. In physics, the number of crests of a wave that move past a given point in a given unit of time. The most common unit of frequency is the hertz (Hz), corresponding to one crest per second. The frequency of a wave can be calculated by dividing the speed of the wave by the wavelength. Thus, in the electromagnetic spectrum, the wavelengths decrease as the frequencies increase, and vice versa.

Other Word Forms

• nonfrequence noun
• nonfrequency noun
• overfrequency noun
• underfrequency noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of frequency¹

First recorded in 1545–55, frequency is from the Latin word frequentia assembly, multitude, crowd. See frequent, -cy

Word History and Origins

Origin of frequency¹

C16: from Latin frequentia a large gathering, from frequēns numerous, crowded

Example Sentences

A boom in informal settlements across most of the Balkans during the 1990s, often built on flood-prone land, means disasters could "compound and cascade" as their frequency increases, the report stated.

Read more on Barron's

The widespread protests that took place after the last election have subsided in frequency, due to fears of repercussions for demonstrators.

Read more on BBC

That way, when they returned to flat ground, they’d learned to “move at a different frequency.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Enhancing the drug’s skin permeability could make treatments more efficient, reduce application frequency, and possibly lower side effects related to overuse.

Read more on Science Daily

Others are overturning long-held ideas about the ideal frequency for physical intimacy.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• density 
• number 
• prevalence 
• recurrence 
• regularity www.thesaurus.com
• repetition