sound wave

noun

Physics.

1. a longitudinal wave in an elastic medium, especially a wave producing an audible sensation.

sound wave

noun

1. a wave that propagates sound

Word History and Origins

Origin of sound wave¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Sonar imaging, which mapped the ocean floor using sound waves, led researchers to what they claimed was a small aircraft.

From BBC

Lossless works by capturing the recording’s original sound waves and putting them together to create an accurate reproduction of its initial quality.

From Los Angeles Times

With their headphones on, they bobbed their heads to the beats they were cooking up and watched intently as sound waves danced across their laptop screens.

From Los Angeles Times

Still, these were plasma waves, and not sound waves.

From Salon

They point to a health centre that they say struggles to accurately measure patients' blood pressure at times because the sound waves from the concerts disturb the readings in their machines.

From BBC

Related Words

• radio wave