capillary wave

noun

A wave at a fluid boundary dominated by surface tension (opposed to larger waves dominated by gravity), a ripple.

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Meanings

nouncapillary wave (plural capillary waves)

plural capillary waves

  1. A wave at a fluid boundary dominated by surface tension (opposed to larger waves dominated by gravity), a ripple.

Origin

So named because the wave propagation is due to similar physical principles to those involved in capillary action.

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Cite this entry
APA

capillary wave. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/capillary%20wave

MLA

“capillary wave.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/capillary%20wave. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “capillary wave,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/capillary%20wave.

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