Waveshape

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A form or pattern that resembles the undulating shape of waves
2. a graphical representation of sound or movement that illustrates variations in amplitude over time
3. a design element that captures the essence of flowing curves and rhythmic motion

Etymology: "Waveshape" is a plain compound, built from "wave" and "shape" and meaning the shape of a wave. Its parts are both old, native English words: "wave" comes from Old English "wæg", and "shape" from Old English "gesceap", a word that originally meant creation or form before narrowing to outward appearance. The compound has no hidden history to uncover, and its meaning is transparent from its parts. It is a technical-style coinage used in physics, acoustics, and electronics to describe the form a periodic signal takes when plotted against time, such as sine, square, or sawtooth profiles. Its literal sense has changed little since it was formed.