P-wave

noun

A longitudinal compressional wave produced by an earthquake.

Similar
seismic wave
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Meanings

nounP-wave (plural P-waves)

plural P-waves · alternative P wave

  1. geographyA longitudinal compressional wave produced by an earthquake.

    P-waves are the first to arrive; that is, they travel fastest. These are ‘push-pull’ waves analogous to sound waves, in which each particle moves back and forth as the waves propagate.

    2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society, published 2011, page 71

    Synonyms: seismic wave

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA longitudinal compressional wave produced by an earthquake.

Similar
seismic wave

Origin

From p(rimary) + wave.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

P-wave. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/P-wave

MLA

“P-wave.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/P-wave. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “P-wave,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/P-wave.

Source: P-wave on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.