adj · adv · noun · 7 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:/ˈʃɔːtweɪv/
General-American:/ˈʃoɹtˌweɪv/
General-American:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:SH AO1 R T W EY1 V
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
An electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; specifically, one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
An electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; specifically, one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz.
Downward radiation in the shortwave (noun sense 1) frequency range which enters the Earth's atmosphere.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: decameter wave, SW
Antonyms: none provided
6
noun
Meaning 6
An electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; specifically, one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz.
A waveband comprising radio waves in the shortwave (noun sense 1) frequency range, especially when used in broadcasting.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
An electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; specifically, one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz.
In full shortwave radio: a radio which is able to receive radio waves in the shortwave (noun sense 1) waveband.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: decameter wave, SW
Antonyms: none provided
History
Etymology
The noun is derived from short (adjective) + wave (noun). The adjective is from an attributive use of the noun. The adverb is also derived from the noun.
Across languages
Translations
58 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Belarusian:
караткахва́левы
(karatkaxváljevy)
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Catalan:
ona curta
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Chinese Mandarin:
短波
(duǎnbō)
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Danish:
kortbølge
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Dutch:
kortegolf
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Finnish:
lyhytaaltoinen
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
French:
onde courte
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Georgian:
მოკლეტალღიანი
(moḳleṭalɣiani)
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Georgian:
მოკლეტალღური
(moḳleṭalɣuri)
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
German:
kurzwellig
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Italian:
onde corte
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Japanese:
短波
(tanpa)
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Korean:
단파
(danpa)
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Latvian:
īsviļņi
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Latvian:
īsie viļņi
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Malay:
gelombang pendek
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Romanian:
undă scurtă
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Russian:
коротковолно́вый
(korotkovolnóvyj)
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Russian:
коротково́лновый
(korotkovólnovyj)
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Swedish:
kortvågig
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Thai:
คลื่นสั้น
(klʉ̂ʉn-sân)
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Ukrainian:
короткохвильови́й
(korotkoxvylʹovýj)
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Vietnamese:
sóng ngắn
— of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Belarusian:
караткахва́левы
(karatkaxváljevy)
— of radio equipment: capable of receiving or transmitting radio signals at wavelengths in the above range
Chinese Mandarin:
短波
(duǎnbō)
— of radio equipment: capable of receiving or transmitting radio signals at wavelengths in the above range
Finnish:
lyhytaalto-
— of radio equipment: capable of receiving or transmitting radio signals at wavelengths in the above range
Italian:
onda corta
— of radio equipment: capable of receiving or transmitting radio signals at wavelengths in the above range
Russian:
коротковолно́вый
(korotkovolnóvyj)
— of radio equipment: capable of receiving or transmitting radio signals at wavelengths in the above range
Russian:
коротково́лновый
(korotkovólnovyj)
— of radio equipment: capable of receiving or transmitting radio signals at wavelengths in the above range
Ukrainian:
короткохвильови́й
(korotkoxvylʹovýj)
— of radio equipment: capable of receiving or transmitting radio signals at wavelengths in the above range
Finnish:
lyhytaalloilla
— using radio waves having wavelengths of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to frequencies between 3 and 30 megahertz
Burmese:
လှိုင်းတို
(hluing:tui)
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Catalan:
ona curta
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Chinese Cantonese:
短波
(dyun2 bo1)
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Chinese:
短波
(tér-pho, té-pho, toán-pho)
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Chinese Mandarin:
短波
(duǎnbō)
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Danish:
kortbølge
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Dutch:
kortegolf
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Finnish:
lyhytaalto
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
French:
onde courte
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
German:
Kurzwelle
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Gujarati:
લઘુ તરંગ
(laghu taraṅg)
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Italian:
onda corta
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Japanese:
短波
(tanpa)
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Korean:
단파
(danpa)
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Latvian:
īsie viļņi
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Latvian:
īsviļņi
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Norwegian Bokmål:
kortbølge
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Norwegian Nynorsk:
kortbølgje
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Portuguese:
onda curta
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Romanian:
undă scurtă
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Spanish:
onda corta
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Swedish:
kortvåg
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Thai:
คลื่นสั้น
(klʉ̂ʉn-sân)
— electromagnetic wave with a relatively short wavelength; one with a wavelength generally between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz
Finnish:
lyhytaaltosäteily
— downward radiation in the shortwave frequency range which enters the Earth’s atmosphere
Finnish:
lyhytaaltoalue
— waveband comprising radio waves in the shortwave frequency range
Greek:
βραχέα κύματα
(vrachéa kýmata)
— waveband comprising radio waves in the shortwave frequency range
Finnish:
lyhytaaltovastaanotin
— radio which is able to receive radio waves in the shortwave waveband
