wave surface

1 definition found

wave surface - 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. [root]138.
     See Wave, v. i.]
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     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.
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              The wave behind impels the wave before. --Pope.
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     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.
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     3. Water; a body of water. [Poetic] "Deep drank Lord Marmion
        of the wave." --Sir W. Scott.
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              Build a ship to save thee from the flood,
              I 'll furnish thee with fresh wave, bread, and wine.
                                                    --Chapman.
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     4. Unevenness; inequality of surface. --Sir I. Newton.
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     5. A waving or undulating motion; a signal made with the
        hand, a flag, etc.
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     6. The undulating line or streak of luster on cloth watered,
        or calendered, or on damask steel.
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     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.
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