Huygens-Fresnel principle

proper noun

A method of analysis applied to problems of wave propagation, stating that every point on a wavefront is itself the source of spherical wavelets, and the secondary wavelets emanating from different points mutually interfere.

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Meanings

proper nounthe Huygens-Fresnel principle
  1. A method of analysis applied to problems of wave propagation, stating that every point on a wavefront is itself the source of spherical wavelets, and the secondary wavelets emanating from different points mutually interfere.

Origin

Named after Dutch physicist Christiaan Huygens and French physicist Augustin-Jean Fresnel.

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Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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