Rayleigh disk

noun

Ray·​leigh disk

ˈrā-lē-

: a thin circular disk of mica or aluminum that when suspended in a beam of sound tends to set itself at right angles to the direction of propagation and by the angle assumed gives a measure of the sound intensity

Word History

Etymology

after Baron John W. S. Rayleigh †1919 English physicist

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!