Medical Definition of Longitudinal wave
1.
Waves where the variation of the field is partially or totally in the direction of propagation (parallel to wavennumber, k [a vector]).
Examples include sound waves and Langmuir waves. Contrasted with transverse waves, where the variation is perpendicular to the direction of propagation, such as light waves.
(13 Nov 1997)
Lexicographical Neighbors of Longitudinal Wave
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