ultrasonic

adjective

ul·​tra·​son·​ic ˌəl-trə-ˈsä-nik 

1

: having a frequency above the human ear's audibility limit of about 20,000 hertz

—used of waves and vibrations

2

: utilizing, produced by, or relating to ultrasonic waves or vibrations

ultrasonically

ˌəl-trə-ˈsä-ni-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Did you know?

Ultrasound, or ultrasonography, works on the principle that sound is reflected at different speeds by tissues or substances of different densities. Ultrasound technology has been used medically since the 1940s. Sonograms, the pictures produced by ultrasound, can reveal heart defects, tumors, and gallstones; since low-power ultrasonic waves don't present any risks to a body, they're most often used to display fetuses during pregnancy in order to make sure they're healthy. Ultrasonics has many other uses, including underwater sonar sensing. High-power ultrasonics are so intense that they're actually used for drilling and welding.

Examples of ultrasonic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Bernstein says that ultrasonic technology, especially in the air, fills a unique role, particularly in environments where traditional sensors fail to see all objects. —Jennifer Kite-Powell, Forbes, 24 Oct. 2024

This includes the Hyper OS 2 skin, 12GB of base RAM, an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, flat edges, and an IP68 rating. —Ewan Spence, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024

Ultrasonic Devices Generally silent to human ears, ultrasonic devices emit a high-frequency sound that rats can’t stand. —Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Sep. 2024

Its enormous six-gallon tank uses ultrasonic technology to deliver incredibly fine water vapor across (up to) a 753-square-foot area. —Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

ultrasonic

adjective

ul·​tra·​son·​ic ˌəl-trə-ˈsän-ik 

: relating to or being vibrations that are of the same kind as sound waves but have too high a frequency to be heard by the human ear

ultrasonically

-ˈsän-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Medical Definition

ultrasonic

adjective

ul·​tra·​son·​ic -ˈsän-ik 

1

a

: having a frequency above the human ear's audibility limit of about 20,000 hertz

—used of waves and vibrations

b

: utilizing, produced by, or relating to ultrasonic waves or vibrations

removal of tartar with an ultrasonic scaler

2

: ultrasound

ultrasonically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb