fundamental frequency
Americannoun
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the lowest frequency at which a medium will freely oscillate.
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the frequency of the fundamental.
Etymology
Origin of fundamental frequency
Probably earlier than 1960–65
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When the string of an instrument is struck, the fundamental frequency is overlaid by several harmonic overtones.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 14, 2024
The song or fundamental frequency of the blue whale is so deep and such a low frequency that it is beyond the range of human hearing.
From BBC ● Nov. 22, 2023
Waves on a string are resonant standing waves with a fundamental frequency and can occur at higher multiples of the fundamental, called overtones or harmonics.
From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015
What are the first three overtones of a bassoon that has a fundamental frequency of 90.0 Hz?
From Textbooks ● Aug. 12, 2015
As in speech the frequencies vary constantly, many pitches constituting even a single spoken word, so the alternating voice currents are of great varying complexity, and every fundamental frequency has its harmonics superposed.
From Cyclopedia of Telephony & Telegraphy Vol. 1 A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. by Kempster Miller
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