longitudinal wave
noun
: a wave (such as a sound wave) in which the particles of the medium vibrate in the direction of the line of advance of the wave
Examples of longitudinal wave in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And so nothing would prevent you from sending an infinite number of those longitudinal waves and compensate them with the normal gravitational waves at no energy cost at all.
—
Janna Levin, Quanta Magazine, 29 Aug. 2024
The longitudinal waves triggered by a rider slowing or braking spread twice as fast as the transverse waves triggered by riders moving side to side.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Nov. 2018
The first are longitudinal waves, moving back and forth along the peloton, usually caused when a rider slows to avoid a collision or brakes suddenly.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Nov. 2018
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Janna Levin, Quanta Magazine, 29 Aug. 2024
The longitudinal waves triggered by a rider slowing or braking spread twice as fast as the transverse waves triggered by riders moving side to side.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Nov. 2018
The first are longitudinal waves, moving back and forth along the peloton, usually caused when a rider slows to avoid a collision or brakes suddenly.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 19 Nov. 2018
Dictionary Entries Near longitudinal wave
Cite this Entry
“Longitudinal wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/longitudinal%20wave. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share