sound wave

noun

1

: sound entry 1 sense 1a

2

sound waves plural : longitudinal pressure waves in any material medium regardless of whether they constitute audible sound

earthquake waves and ultrasonic waves are sometimes called sound waves

Examples of sound wave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Stations across the country ignored his request, filling the sound waves with Elvis’s deep, crooning rock-and-roll take on the classic. —Emma Madden, Vulture, 23 Dec. 2024

Christopher Payne/Esto Noise is the most critical signature, and so engineers working on stealth technology focus on suppressing the sound waves that submarines give off, rendering their movements nearly silent, especially at slow speeds. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 Dec. 2024

The energy then travels via a wire, like copper lines, before being converted back into sound waves for the receiving phone. —Addy Bink, The Hill, 10 Dec. 2024

Snakes see infrared light, birds and reindeer see ultraviolet light, and dolphins use sound waves to navigate underwater. —Melanie Stetson Freeman, The Christian Science Monitor, 22 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1848, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

sound wave

noun

1

: sound sense 1

2

sound waves plural : longitudinal pressure waves especially when transmitting audible sound