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gravitational wave

gravitational wave

4 7.2
A ripple in space and time made by very strong events like colliding black holes
  • noun
  • /ˌɡrævɪˈteɪʃənl weɪv/
  • Specialized
translation icon : onda gravitacional
  • This is a detection of gravitational waves from a binary neutron star.
  • gravitational wave detector
  • detection of gravitational waves
  • gravitational wave signal

The wiggles in space-time are called gravitational waves, not gravity waves.

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Examples

  • Researchers use advanced instruments to measure the faint signals of gravitational waves generated by cosmic events.

  • Unlike electromagnetic waves, however, gravitational waves are not disturbances that travel through space; they are disturbances in the very fabric.

    Academic text (2001)
  • So how are gravitational waves generated?

  • By monitoring the optical signal for interference, we should be able to detect gravitational waves.

    Academic text (2001)
  • There is a large range of processes in the universe that should produce detectable gravitational waves.

    Academic text (1999)
  • Albert Einstein first predicted the existence of gravitational waves in his general theory of relativity.

    Academic text (2001)
  • In 2015, scientists successfully detected gravitational waves for the first time, confirming Einstein's theory.

  • The collision of two neutron stars produced a gravitational wave that traveled across the universe.

Synonyms

gravity wave
vsgravitational wave
  • Specialized
1 8.8

A wave in space that makes space and time stretch when very heavy things move, like two black holes colliding

focuses on ripples in space and time produced by very violent energetic events

Surface Forms

Morphology

gravitational + wave

The phrase is a straightforward composition of 'gravitational' (relating to gravity) + 'wave' (a ripple), so a learner who knows both words can infer it refers to a wave produced by or in the gravitational field. Although the full scientific concept (ripples in space–time, astrophysical sources) is specialized, the core meaning is compositionally predictable from the constituents.

Etymology

Gravitational wave uses the picture of gravity making ripples, like a stone making waves in a pond, with gravitational pointing to gravity and wave showing a moving ripple. So it means 'a ripple in space and time' sent out by very big events like two colliding black holes.