primary wave

American  

noun

1. Seismology. P wave.

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primary wave Scientific  

1. A type of seismic body wave in which rock particles vibrate parallel to the direction of wave travel. Primary waves are alternatingly compressional and extensional, and cause the rocks they pass through to change in volume. These waves are the fastest traveling seismic waves and can travel through solids, liquids, and gases.

2. Also called P wave

3. See Note at earthquake

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Etymology

Origin of primary wave

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

primary wave

The first wave is a sound wave–like primary wave, or P-wave, moving at about four miles per second.

From Slate ● Apr. 18, 2018

The fronts of these secondary waves all lie on a surface, which becomes the new surface of the primary wave.

From Heroes of Science: Physicists by Garnett, William

For a point Q outside the shadow the integration extends over more than half the primary wave.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4 "Diameter" to "Dinarchus" by Various

But a little consideration will prove that in that case the series of secondary waves could not reconstitute the primary wave.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4 "Diameter" to "Dinarchus" by Various

To assume a cylindrical form of primary wave would be justifiable only when there is synchronism among the secondary waves issuing from the various centres.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 4 "Diameter" to "Dinarchus" by Various