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wave number

noun

  1. the number of waves in one centimeter of light in a given wavelength; the reciprocal of the wavelength.

wave number

noun

  1. physics the reciprocal of the wavelength of a wave νσ

wave number

  1. The number of wave cycles per unit distance for a wave of a given wavelength.

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Word History and Origins

Origin of wave number1

First recorded in 1900–05

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tortuous

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