wave number
noun
the number of waves in one centimeter of light in a given wavelength; the reciprocal of the wavelength.
Origin of wave number
First recorded in 1900–05
Words nearby wave number
wave farm,
wave front,
wave function,
wave mechanics,
wave moth,
wave number,
wave of the future,
wave power,
wave speed,
wave tank,
wave theory
British Dictionary definitions for wave number
wave number
noun
physics
the reciprocal of the wavelength of a wave
Symbol: ν, σ
Scientific definitions for wave number
wave number
The number of wave cycles per unit distance for a wave of a given wavelength.