wave front


noun Physics.

a surface, real or imaginary, that is the locus of all adjacent points at which the phase of oscillation is the same.

Origin of wave front

First recorded in 1865–70

British Dictionary definitions for wavefront

wavefront
/ (ˈweɪvˌfrʌnt) /

noun

physics a surface associated with a propagating wave and passing through all points in the wave that have the same phase. It is usually perpendicular to the direction of propagation

Scientific definitions for wavefront

wave front

The set of points in space reached by a wave or vibration at the same instant as the wave travels through a medium. Wave fronts generally form a continuous line or surface. The lines formed by crests of ripples on a pond, for example, correspond to curved wave fronts.