soundwaves
How hearing works
Soundwaves are vibrations that travel through air, water, or other media, perceived as sound when they reach the ear.
The term appears in discussions of acoustics, music production, and physics: Soundwaves bounce off hard surfaces.
Usually written as two words (sound waves), but the single-word form appears in casual and technical contexts alike.
Tenth of a bel
- echoReflected sound wave
- reverberationProlonged reflected sound
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
- frequencyRate of recurrence
wavelength · pitch · resonance · vibration · propagation · absorption · reflection · diffraction
Repeated back-and-forth movement
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- mediumMiddle size or state
- pressureForce upon contact
- displacementRemoval from usual location
energy · velocity · interference · constructive · destructive · standing · traveling · nodes
Graphed oscillation pattern
- spectrogramFrequency-over-time display
- oscilloscopeVoltage waveform display device
- graphVisual data display
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
sine · sawtooth · square · transient · envelope · peak · trough · cycle
Frequency measurement unit
- kilohertzThousand-cycle frequency unit
- megahertzOne million oscillations per second
- audibleCapable of being detected by ear
- subsonicBelow sound's speed
supersonic · bandwidth · range · octave · harmonics · overtones · fundamental · spectrum
Pleasing sequence of notes
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- rhythmPatterned stress and silence
- timbreSound's distinctive character
- tempoRate of musical performance
beat · chord · note · tune · instrument · voice · singing · acoustic
Audio input device
- speakersAudio output devices
- amplifierSignal-strengthening electronic device
- headphonesWearable speakers for ears
- stereoTwo-channel audio system
mixer · recording · volume · broadcast · earbuds · loudspeaker · receiver · transmitter
decibel
Tenth of a bel
- echoReflected sound wave
- reverberationProlonged reflected sound
- amplitudeMaximum oscillation displacement
frequency · wavelength · pitch · resonance · vibration · propagation · absorption · reflection · diffraction · transmission
oscillation
Repeated back-and-forth movement
- propagationAct of spreading widely
- mediumMiddle size or state
- pressureForce upon contact
displacement · energy · velocity · interference · constructive · destructive · standing · traveling · nodes · superposition
waveform
Graphed oscillation pattern
- spectrogramFrequency-over-time display
- oscilloscopeVoltage waveform display device
- graphVisual data display
amplitude · sine · sawtooth · square · transient · envelope · peak · trough · cycle · period
hertz
Frequency measurement unit
- kilohertzThousand-cycle frequency unit
- megahertzOne million oscillations per second
- audibleCapable of being detected by ear
subsonic · supersonic · bandwidth · range · octave · harmonics · overtones · fundamental · spectrum · tone
melody
Pleasing sequence of notes
- harmonyAgreement or musical blend
- rhythmPatterned stress and silence
- timbreSound's distinctive character
tempo · beat · chord · note · tune · instrument · voice · singing · acoustic · resonance
microphone
Audio input device
- speakersAudio output devices
- amplifierSignal-strengthening electronic device
- headphonesWearable speakers for ears
stereo · mixer · recording · volume · broadcast · earbuds · loudspeaker · receiver · transmitter · equalizer
soundwaveselectromagnetic radiation
Wave-propagating energy through space
light waves · radio waves · electromagnetic waves · microwaves · X-rays
soundwavessilence
Total lack of sound
soundlessness · quiet · stillness · noiselessness · hush