Phrase guide

short wave

noun · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈʃɔːt weɪv/
  • General-American: /ˈʃoɹt ˌweɪv/
  • General-American: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A wave in a gas or liquid with a relatively short wavelength.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Alternative form of shortwave.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

Topics: broadcasting, communications, electrical-engineering, engineering, media, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics, radio, telecommunications

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

a radio wave with a wavelength less than 100 meters (a frequency greater than 3 megahertz)

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: radio wave, radio emission, radio radiation

History

Etymology

From short (adjective) + wave (noun).

Across languages

Translations

1 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: lyhyt aalto — wave in a gas or liquid with a relatively short wavelength