wavelengthn.
/ˈweɪvlɛŋ(k)θ/, U.S. /ˈweɪvˌlɛŋ(k)θ/ 1.
a. The distance between successive peaks or maxima of a wave; esp. this as a distinctive feature of the radio waves used to carry a particular programme service.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the earth > water > flow or flowing > wave > [noun] > wave-length
wavelength1850
society > communication > telecommunication > radio communications > [noun] > radio wave > length of
wavelength1850
radio wavelength1922
the world > matter > physics > mechanics > types of motion > [noun] > wave > shape, speed, period, length, etc.
waveform1845
wavelength1850
wave-front1867
wave-shell1877
wave velocity1887
wave period1909
transient1910
phase velocity1927
incoherence1938
waveshape1940
1850 Rep. Brit. Assoc. Advancem. Sci. 1849 ii. 11 It was well known..that Fraunhofer had most accurately measured the wave lengths of seven of the principal fixed lines in the solar spectrum.
1871 tr. H. Schellen Spectrum Anal. §18. 59 The rays of shortest wave~length, namely the violet.
1881 J. Broadhouse Student's Helmholtz 66 The fork..condenses..a bulk of air equal in length to the wave-length of its own pitch.
1907 V. Cornish in Geogr. Jrnl. Jan. 25 The water may commonly be seen to..grow in the space of a few yards to a uniform wave-length of about 2 feet.
1925 Scribner's Mag. July 47/2 He swung the dials round to where he could receive the commercial wave lengths.
1950 Engineering 24 Mar. 337/3 The reasons for changes in the wavelengths of European broadcasting stations..are explained.
1971 Daily Tel. 18 Jan. 7/4 His experts have also juggled wavelengths to make air space for both Radio 1 and the commercial network.
1977 P. B. Medawar & J. S. Medawar Life Sci. i. 20 Ordinary light microscopy has the disadvantage that nothing can be seen that is smaller than the wavelength of visible light.
b. Electromagnetic waves of the wavelength described.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > electromagnetic radiation > [noun] > wavelength
wavelength1915
decimetre wave1929
1915 R. A. Houstoun Treat. Light xxv. 449 He assumes the existence of an enclosure containing a great number of Hertzian oscillators all radiating and absorbing the same wave-length.
1937 F. A. Jenkins & H. E. White Fund. Optics xii. 277 Substances are said to show selective reflection when certain wave-lengths are reflected much more strongly than others.
1982 Sci. Amer. Aug. 52/1 Most ultraviolet wavelengths..cannot penetrate the earth's atmosphere.
c. The distance between adjacent heights or hollows in a body with a wave-like surface.
ΘΚΠ
the world > space > shape > curvature > series of curves > [noun] > wave-like curve(s) > distant between adjacent heights or hollows
wavelength1958
1958 Spectator 31 Jan. 133/3 The wavelength of the corrugations [on Persian roads] is considerably larger than the pace of a sheep or goat.
1977 Sci. Amer. (U.K. ed.) Apr. 30/1 Nearly constant winds blow across the basin with such force that they pile up sand dunes as much as 150 kilometres long with wavelengths of three to five kilometres, clearly visible in satellite pictures.
2. figurative with allusion to radio reception, implying (esp. mutual) understanding; esp. in to be on the same wavelength (as someone else), to understand each other.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > [noun] > understanding, comprehension
knowing1340
taking1395
apprehending1398
feela1400
conceitc1405
perceitc1460
comprehension?15..
intellection?1526
apprension1589
making-outa1601
reception1612
uptaking1614
perceivancy1649
comprehending1668
recognition1749
prehension1836
prension1837
wavelength1925
the mind > mental capacity > understanding > understand [phrase] > share understanding
to speak (also talk) someone's (also the same) language1893
to be on the same wavelength1964
1925 N. Venner Imperfect Impostor i. 11 No. You're on the wrong wave length! Nothing doing.
1927 Amer. Speech 2 276/2 Have one's wave length, know one's sentiments.
1929 A. E. Housman Let. 16 Feb. (1971) i. 276 Only the archangel Raphael could recite my poetry properly, but..you would do it quite nicely, and I shall try not to set up interfering wave~lengths.
a1936 R. Kipling Let. in C. E. Carrington Rudyard Kipling (1955) xx. 509 Every man has to work out his creed according to his own wave-length, and the hope is that the Great Receiving Station is tuned to take all wave-lengths.
1938 Times Lit. Suppl. 24 Sept. 617/3 She finally comes to believe that she is the only person in Riverville who was ‘born civilized’ and that nobody else there is of her own ‘wavelength’.
1947 T. S. Eliot Milton 12 It is only in the period that the wave-length of Milton's verse is to be found.
1959 Economist 6 June 919/2 Editors and publishers..have to..find the wave~length of their..readers.
1964 H. Waldock in Barcelona Traction, Light & Power Co. Case (Internat. Court of Justice) II. 112 I do not think that it would assist the Court if I were to deal with every contention advanced by our opponents in their Observations and Conclusions; for on some points we are really not on the same wave~length.
1976 Ld. Home Way Wind Blows ii. 27 In September A. W. Whitworth took over, and I like to think we were soon on each other's wave-length.
1983 D. Dunnett Dolly & Bird of Paradise xiii. 168 We weren't on the same wavelength really... He was clever. And my thoughts are easy to read.
Compounds
wavelength constant n. = propagation constant n. at propagation n. Compounds 2.
ΘΚΠ
the world > matter > physics > mechanics > types of motion > [noun] > wave > specific coefficients
propagation constant1911
wavelength constant1940
propagation coefficient1943
propagation factor1955
1940 Chambers's Techn. Dict. 902/2 Wavelength constant.
1963 R. W. Ditchburn Light (ed. 2) ii. 28 The wave~length..is denoted by λ. An associated constant κ = 2π/λ is called the wavelength constant (or propagation constant).
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1986; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
<
n.1850