See also: P wave

English edit

Alternative forms edit

Etymology edit

From p(rimary) + wave.

Noun edit

P-wave (plural P-waves)

  1. (geology, seismology) A longitudinal compressional wave produced by an earthquake.
    • 2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society, published 2011, page 71:
      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.

Synonyms edit

See also edit