Huygens' principle

proper noun

The assumption that each point on a wavefront may be regarded as a source of secondary waves and that the position of the wavefront at a later time is determined by the envelope of these secondary waves; proposed in order to explain the fact that light travels in a straight line and casts sharp shadows.

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Meanings

proper noun
  1. natural sciencesThe assumption that each point on a wavefront may be regarded as a source of secondary waves and that the position of the wavefront at a later time is determined by the envelope of these secondary waves; proposed in order to explain the fact that light travels in a straight line and casts sharp shadows.

Origin

From Christiaan Huygens, Dutch physicist.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Hungarian Huygens–Fresnel-elv
  • Huygens–Fresnel-elvTranslations
Polish zasada Huygensa
  • zasada HuygensaTranslations
Cite this entry
APA

Huygens' principle. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Huygens'%20principle

MLA

“Huygens' principle.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Huygens'%20principle. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Huygens' principle,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Huygens'%20principle.

Source: Huygens' principle on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.