Wavelengths

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A measurable distance between successive waves in various forms of radiation, such as light or sound, which determines their characteristics
2. The interval separating successive peaks of waves in light, sound, or other types of electromagnetic radiation, affecting their properties
3. The length between two consecutive points at the same phase in a wave, such as crests or troughs, that determines wave properties

Etymology: "Wavelengths" is the plural of "wavelength," a compound formed from "wave" and "length." The pairing is literal: the term names the length of a single wave, measured from one crest to the next, so the two parts of the word describe exactly what the thing is. Plural forms appear whenever several distinct radiations are compared, as in talk of the wavelengths of light that the eye can and cannot detect.

Synonyms: frequencies