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wave theory
noun
- Also called undulatory theory. Physics. the theory that light is transmitted as a wave, similar to oscillations in magnetic and electric fields. Compare corpuscular theory.
- Historical Linguistics. a theory that accounts for shared features among languages or dialects by identifying these features as innovations that spread from their points of origin to the speech of contiguous areas.
wave theory
noun
- the theory proposed by Huygens that light is transmitted by waves
- any theory that light or other radiation is transmitted as waves See electromagnetic wave
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Word History and Origins
Origin of wave theory1
First recorded in 1825–35
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Example Sentences
The interference of light is one of the phenomena for which the wave theory offers the only satisfactory explanation.
From Project Gutenberg
In optics, he developed the wave theory, and his name is associated with the simple dispersion formula.
From Project Gutenberg
Likewise, he first proposed the wave theory of light; although it was Huygens who established it on its present foundation.
From Project Gutenberg
Huyghens sought to account for this phenomenon on the principles of the wave theory, and he succeeded in doing so.
From Project Gutenberg
As stated at the time, this discovery ushered in the darkest hour in the fortunes of the wave theory.
From Project Gutenberg
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