[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

undulatory \un"dulatory\ ?; 277, a. cf. f. ondulatoire.
   moving in the manner of undulations, or waves; resembling the
   motion of waves, which successively rise or swell rise or
   swell and fall; pertaining to a propagated alternating
   motion, similar to that of waves.
   1913 webster

   undulatory theory, or wave theory of light opt., that
      theory which regards the various phenomena of light as due
      to undulations in an ethereal medium, propagated from the
      radiant with immense, but measurable, velocities, and
      producing different impressions on the retina according to
      their amplitude and frequency, the sensation of brightness
      depending on the former, that of color on the latter. the
      undulations are supposed to take place, not in the
      direction of propagation, as in the air waves constituting
      sound, but transversely, and the various phenomena of
      refraction, polarization, interference, etc., are
      attributable to the different affections of these
      undulations in different circumstances of propagation. it
      is computed that the frequency of the undulations
      corresponding to the several colors of the spectrum ranges
      from 458 millions of millions per second for the extreme
      red ray, to 727 millions of millions for the extreme
      violet, and their lengths for the same colors, from the
      thirty-eight thousandth to the sixty thousandth part of an
      inch. the theory of ethereal undulations is applicable not
      only to the phenomena of light, but also to those of heat.
      1913 webster
see also:
undulatory theory wave theory 

[2] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

wave \wave\, n. from wave, v.; not the same word as oe. wawe,
   waghe, a wave, which is akin to e. wag to move. root138.
   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 zool., 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
see also:
wave undulation wave front wave length wave line wave-line system 
wave-line theory wave loaf wave moth acidalia wave offering 
wave of vibration wave surface refraction wave theory undulatory theory 
undulatory 

[3] : WordNet (r) 2.0

wave theory
     n : physics the theory that light is transmitted as waves
         syn: undulatory theory, wave theory of light ant:
         corpuscular theory, corpuscular theory
see also:
undulatory theory wave theory of light corpuscular theory 

Theory >> T Words
Theory, definition of term: Theory
theory_pag1.html

Radio Wave >> R Words
Radio Wave, definition of term: Radio Wave
radio+wave_pag1.html

Quantum Theory >> Q Words
Quantum Theory, definition of term: Quantum Theory
quantum+theory_pag1.html

New Wave >> N Words
New Wave, definition of term: New Wave
new+wave_pag1.html

Set Theory >> S Words
Set Theory, definition of term: Set Theory
set+theory_pag1.html

Permanent Wave >> P Words
Permanent Wave, definition of term: Permanent Wave
permanent+wave_pag1.html

Shock Wave >> S Words
Shock Wave, definition of term: Shock Wave
shock+wave_pag1.html

Sound Wave >> S Words
Sound Wave, definition of term: Sound Wave
sound+wave_pag1.html

Sine Wave >> S Words
Sine Wave, definition of term: Sine Wave
sine+wave_pag1.html

Short Wave >> S Words
Short Wave, definition of term: Short Wave
short+wave_pag1.html

Page 1 2 3 Next