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Meaning & use

sound wave

noun·Everyday

Last updated

UK/ˈsaʊnd weɪv/
US/ˈsaʊnd weɪv/

Meanings

  1. nouncountable

    A movement of pressure through air, water, or another material that we hear as sound.

    Grammar: Countable, so we say a sound wave or sound waves; it is usually used in the plural in science contexts.

    Patterns

    • a sound wave travels through something
    • sound waves bounce off something
    • the frequency of a sound wave

    A sound wave travels through the air at about 340 meters per second.

    The microphone turns sound waves into electrical signals.

    Bats use sound waves to find their way in the dark.

  2. nouncountabletechnical

    A single vibration of this kind, especially when shown or measured on a screen.

    Grammar: Often used with words like high, low, or a single to talk about one vibration.

    Patterns

    • a high-frequency sound wave
    • a low sound wave

    The device sends out a high-frequency sound wave and listens for the echo.

    On the screen, each sound wave appeared as a smooth curve.

Word forms

pluralsound waves

Common combinations

sound waves travel
Sound waves travel more slowly in water than in steel.
sound waves bounce off
Sound waves bounce off the walls and create an echo.
a high-frequency sound wave
A high-frequency sound wave is too high for humans to hear.
produce sound waves
When you speak, your vocal cords produce sound waves.
absorb sound waves
Soft curtains absorb sound waves and reduce noise.

Synonyms and how they differ

acoustic wave
Acoustic wave is a more technical term used in physics; sound wave is the everyday and school term.
vibration
Vibration is the general movement itself and can be felt rather than heard; a sound wave is the vibration that travels as sound.

Word family

sound noun
The thing we hear; the base of this compound.
wave noun
A movement that carries energy through space or material.
soundproof adjective
Preventing sound from passing through.

Commonly confused: sound wave or soundwave?

sound wave vs soundwave

Soundwave is usually a name or brand, while the scientific term is written as two words, sound wave.

Practice

Sound ______ travel through water much faster than through air.

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