solitary wave

American  

noun

Mathematics, Physics.

1. a localized disturbance that propagates like a wave but resembles a particle in that it does not disperse, even if it collides with other such waves.

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

solitary wave

Fincham, who was born in Britain and grew up in Jamaica, envisioned a soliton—a solitary wave that maintains its energy as it propagates.

From The New Yorker ● Dec. 10, 2018

The result is what physicists call a solitary wave, or soliton, that mimics an individual swell in the open ocean.

From Science Magazine ● Nov. 8, 2017

Now the Silver Knight had sworn—that the Standard so long borne By the Aureate One, in scorn irreducible Should not solitary wave.

From Punch, or the London Charivari, Volume 103, December 3, 1892 by Burnand, F. C. (Francis Cowley), Sir

Chained to my solitary wave, I flew anxiously through the winding, rocky narrows, into which, at times, a thunderbolt darted.

From Titan: A Romance Vol. II (of 2) by Jean Paul

I am a solitary wave in the dark and desolate sea: and the sparkling glass I drank was drugged with misery.

From Peter Schlemihl by Bowring, John