P-wave en · NOUN
Etymology
From p(rimary) + wave.
Meanings
-
A 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:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| P wave | alternative | lexicographic | |
| P-waves | Number=Plur | lexicographic |