wavelength

or wave length

[ weyv-lengkth, -length, -lenth ]

noun

1. Physics. the distance, measured in the direction of propagation of a wave, between two successive points in the wave that are characterized by the same phase of oscillation.

wavelength

/ ˈweɪvˌlɛŋθ /

noun

1. the distance, measured in the direction of propagation, between two points of the same phase in consecutive cycles of a wave λ
2. the wavelength of the carrier wave used by a particular broadcasting station
3. on someone's wavelength informal.
   on someone's wavelengthon the same wavelength having similar views, feelings, or thoughts (as someone else)

wavelength

/ wāv′lĕngkth′ /

1. The distance between one peak or crest of a wave and the next peak or crest. It is equal to the speed of the wave divided by its frequency, and to the speed of a wave times its period.

wavelength

1. The distance between crests (or troughs) of a wave .

Word History and Origins

Origin of wavelength¹

First recorded in 1855–60; wave + length

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on the same wavelength, in sympathy or rapport:

   We seemed to be on the same wavelength from the moment we met.

Example Sentences

In summertime, glass treatments that block certain wavelengths of light can stop heat seeping into the home.

From Washington Post

The JWST is set to observe in longer wavelengths than Hubble and is much bigger.

From Singularity Hub 

Faraday cages work because radiation in radio frequencies is blocked by certain metals, but because of its wavelength, the metal doesn’t even have to be solid — it can be a solid cage or flexible mesh.

From TechCrunch

Because of the short wavelengths, 6 GHz should excel in allowing devices to communicate with one another at high speeds over short distances.

From Popular-Science

Invisible to our eyes, that radio light has wide wavelengths.

From Science News For Students

The image above was constructed with longer-wavelength light, using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA).

From The Daily Beast

I was on too different a wavelength with French society on this point for someone with political responsibilities.

From The Daily Beast

This little gun is the projector for a new ray which I have discovered—an etheric vibration of extremely short wavelength.

From Project Gutenberg

Lieutenant Kalanang's jeep was hit; Lieutenant Vermaas is cutting in his pickup on the same wavelength.

From Project Gutenberg

The voice repeated, several times, the wavelength, and somebody got an auxiliary screen tuned in.

From Project Gutenberg

And Al Webber has some equipment that can paralyze roboguards if we know their operational wavelength.

From Project Gutenberg

The news came; then, immediately after, the Washington transmitter changed its wavelength and he lost connection.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• acumen
• intuition
• judgment
• observation
• understanding
• vision
• wisdom