radio wave

noun

: an electromagnetic wave with radio frequency

Examples of radio wave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Amateur radio operators will try an experiment during both the annular and total solar eclipses to see how these phenomena change the way radio waves travel. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 3 Mar. 2024 However, these storms can disrupt navigation systems, radio waves and power grids. John Tufts, The Courier-Journal, 22 Feb. 2024 As noted above, Breakwater consumes 70 watts, converting 30 watts in radio waves; the other 40 watts are dissipated as heat. David Hambling, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024 To achieve this sort of radar-invisibility, stealth planes have physical shapes that reduce radar signature, along with special coatings that dampen the reflectivity of radio waves. Kelsey D. Atherton, Popular Science, 17 Aug. 2023 Scientists are interested in measuring radio waves on the far side of the moon, the quiet side, which hasn’t been measured since 1973, says Dr. Kring. Mackenzie McCarty, The Christian Science Monitor, 23 Feb. 2024 Also on board: an innovative sensor using radio waves to accurately determine how much cryogenic propellant is left in a tank in the weightless environment of space, technology expected to prove useful for downstream moon missions and other deep space voyages. William Harwood, CBS News, 22 Feb. 2024 When the radio waves detect a target, energy is reflected back to the Doppler, according to the National Weather Service. Jacqueline Pinedo, Sacramento Bee, 1 Feb. 2024 Using waveguides, the army now had a way to transmit bursts of radio waves to detect objects at a distance, which is obviously useful in a war. Erica Huang, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'radio wave.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of radio wave was in 1915

Dictionary Entries Near radio wave

Cite this Entry

“Radio wave.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/radio%20wave. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

radio wave

noun
: an electromagnetic wave with radio frequency

Medical Definition

radio wave

noun
ra·​dio wave ˈrād-ē-ō-ˌwāv How to pronounce radio wave (audio)
: an electromagnetic wave with radio frequency

More from Merriam-Webster on radio wave

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