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standing wave
noun
: a single-frequency mode of vibration of a body or physical system in which the amplitude varies from place to place, is constantly zero at fixed points, and has maxima at other points
Examples of standing wave in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The combination of multiple such diffractions creates a 2D standing wave.
—Susumu Noda, IEEE Spectrum, 14 Apr. 2024
More:Why the opening of the world's largest standing wave pool is a 'touchy situation' in Hawaii A 2022 outreach video by the military notes people might come across unexploded ordnance under leaves or sand, or partially buried, and the items may be rusty.
—Kathleen Wong, USA TODAY, 2 May 2023
During expansion, right after the Big Bang, gravitational waves may have built on each other to create huge standing waves of gravitational energy.
—Jackie Appel, Popular Mechanics, 18 Apr. 2023
The standing wave termination structure now efficiently eliminate standing waves while minimizing the use of acoustic damping material.
—Mark Sparrow, Forbes, 7 Sep. 2021
Coating the film with transparent electrodes enabled them to excite the crystal, setting up an acoustic standing wave that modulates the intensity of light passing through it.
—IEEE Spectrum, 8 Mar. 2023
Traditionally, acoustic levitation involves blasting identical sound waves from two sources—top and bottom—to create a standing wave.
—Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 15 Aug. 2016
This can cause standing waves to form in the airflow, much like a standing wave forms in the lee of a rock in a rapidly flowing stream.
—Tom Yulsman, Discover Magazine, 7 Jan. 2015
The setup created a standing wave between the sphere and transducers, which elevated the object while keeping it in place.
—Carl Engelking, Discover Magazine, 15 Aug. 2016
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'standing wave.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1845, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near standing wave
Cite this Entry
“Standing wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/standing%20wave. Accessed 31 May. 2024.
Kids Definition
standing wave
noun
: a vibration of a body or physical system in which the amplitude varies from place to place, is constantly zero at fixed points, and does not appear to move
More from Merriam-Webster on standing wave
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about standing wave
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