Wave length

Wave Wave, n. [From {Wave}, v.; not the same word as OE. wawe, waghe, a wave, which is akin to E. wag to move. [root]138. See {Wave}, v. i.] [1913 Webster] 1. An advancing ridge or swell on the surface of a liquid, as of the sea, resulting from the oscillatory motion of the particles composing it when disturbed by any force their position of rest; an undulation. [1913 Webster]

The wave behind impels the wave before. --Pope. [1913 Webster]

2. (Physics) A vibration propagated from particle to particle through a body or elastic medium, as in the transmission of sound; an assemblage of vibrating molecules in all phases of a vibration, with no phase repeated; a wave of vibration; an undulation. See {Undulation}. [1913 Webster]

3. Water; a body of water. [Poetic] ``Deep drank Lord Marmion of the wave.'' --Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster]

Build a ship to save thee from the flood, I 'll furnish thee with fresh wave, bread, and wine. --Chapman. [1913 Webster]

4. Unevenness; inequality of surface. --Sir I. Newton. [1913 Webster]

5. A waving or undulating motion; a signal made with the hand, a flag, etc. [1913 Webster]

6. The undulating line or streak of luster on cloth watered, or calendered, or on damask steel. [1913 Webster]

7. Something resembling or likened to a water wave, as in rising unusually high, in being of unusual extent, or in progressive motion; a swelling or excitement, as of feeling or energy; a tide; flood; period of intensity, usual activity, or the like; as, a wave of enthusiasm; waves of applause. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

{Wave front} (Physics), the surface of initial displacement of the particles in a medium, as a wave of vibration advances.

{Wave length} (Physics), the space, reckoned in the direction of propagation, occupied by a complete wave or undulation, as of light, sound, etc.; the distance from a point or phase in a wave to the nearest point at which the same phase occurs.

{Wave line} (Shipbuilding), a line of a vessel's hull, shaped in accordance with the wave-line system.

{Wave-line system}, {Wave-line theory} (Shipbuilding), a system or theory of designing the lines of a vessel, which takes into consideration the length and shape of a wave which travels at a certain speed.

{Wave loaf}, a loaf for a wave offering. --Lev. viii. 27.

{Wave moth} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of small geometrid moths belonging to {Acidalia} and allied genera; -- so called from the wavelike color markings on the wings.

{Wave offering}, an offering made in the Jewish services by waving the object, as a loaf of bread, toward the four cardinal points. --Num. xviii. 11.

{Wave of vibration} (Physics), a wave which consists in, or is occasioned by, the production and transmission of a vibratory state from particle to particle through a body.

{Wave surface}. (a) (Physics) A surface of simultaneous and equal displacement of the particles composing a wave of vibration. (b) (Geom.) A mathematical surface of the fourth order which, upon certain hypotheses, is the locus of a wave surface of light in the interior of crystals. It is used in explaining the phenomena of double refraction. See under {Refraction}.

{Wave theory}. (Physics) See {Undulatory theory}, under {Undulatory}. [1913 Webster]