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wavefront

British  
/ ˈweɪvˌfrʌnt /

noun

  1. physics a surface associated with a propagating wave and passing through all points in the wave that have the same phase. It is usually perpendicular to the direction of propagation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

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The photonic lantern divides the incoming light into multiple channels based on how the light wavefront is shaped, much like separating the notes of a musical chord.

From Science Daily Oct. 25, 2025

First, a wavefront of ions races across the transistor.

From Science Daily Apr. 30, 2024

"We have now developed a special method to deform the wavefront of the light being emitted by the atom," explains Dr. Andrea Alberti.

From Science Daily Mar. 5, 2024

As the wavefront strikes the mirror, wavelets are first emitted from the left part of the mirror and then the right.

From Textbooks Aug. 12, 2015

A wavefront is the long edge that moves, for example, the crest or the trough.

From Textbooks Aug. 12, 2015

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