standing wave

American  

noun

Physics.

1. a wave in a medium in which each point on the axis of the wave has an associated constant amplitude ranging from zero at the nodes to a maximum at the antinodes.

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standing wave British  

noun

1. Also called: stationary wave.  physics the periodic disturbance in a medium resulting from the combination of two waves of equal frequency and intensity travelling in opposite directions. There are generally two kinds of displacement, and the maximum value of the amplitude of one of these occurs at the same points as the minimum value of the amplitude of the other. Thus in the case of electromagnetic radiation the amplitude of the oscillations of the electric field has its greatest value at the points at which the magnetic oscillation is zero, and vice versa Compare node antinode

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standing wave Scientific  

/ stăn′dĭng /

1. A wave that oscillates in place, without transmitting energy along its extent. Standing waves tend to have stable points, called nodes, where there is no oscillation. Examples of standing waves include the vibration of a violin string and electron orbitals in an atom.

2. Also called stationary wave

3. See also harmonic oscillator

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Etymology

Origin of standing wave

First recorded in 1905–10

Example Sentences

"We can levitate objects against gravity by immersing them in a sound field called a standing wave."

From Science Daily • Mar. 22, 2026

In optics, a similar process occurs when two mirrors trap light between them, creating a standing wave inside what scientists call a cavity.

From Science Daily • Oct. 21, 2025

That’s when Slidewaters Waterpark debuted Lakeside Surf, the world’s most powerful artificial standing wave.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 28, 2023

A second later your world explodes: the raft dives into a deep trough and smashes into a standing wave, the first of many.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 14, 2023

The two most common — strings and hollow tubes — will be discussed below, but first let's finish discussing what makes a good standing wave container, and how this affects music theory.

From "Understanding Basic Music Theory" by Catherine Schmidt-Jones and Russel Jones