Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
sinusoidal

sinusoidal

1 9.2
A smooth regular curve that goes up and down
  • adjective
  • /ˌsaɪnəˈsɔɪdəl/
  • Specialized
translation icon : sinusoidal
  • At the mid-latitudes, the daily solar irradiance follows a near-perfect sinusoidal pattern for the yearly cycle.
  • sinusoidal signal
  • sinusoidal fluctuations
  • sinusoidal vertical axis

That means this sinusoidal shape is associated with what?

Examples

  • New models with sinusoidal commutation are designed to provide smooth motion.

    Academic text (1994)

  • So this is very much generating a very sinusoidal looking input, right?

  • So if we wait long enough, all that we're going to be left with is the sinusoidal term, OK?

  • An electronic sinusoidal signal was delivered to the transducer.

    Academic text (1998)

  • The sinusoidal vertical-axis rotation test showed normal gains, a phase lead at 0.32 Hz, and no abnormal symmetry.

    Academic text (2009)

  • At the mid-latitudes, the daily solar irradiance follows a near-perfect sinusoidal pattern for the yearly cycle.

  • For the sake of concreteness, consider a sinusoidal wave on a string.

  • New models with sinusoidal commutation are designed to provide smooth motion.

Synonyms

sinuous
vssinusoidal
5 7.4

Shows many smooth, flowing curves like a snake or river

is about regular repeating wave shapes with uniform smooth curves
sinuate
vssinusoidal
  • Specialized
9.3

An edge that curves in and out like small waves on leaves or shells

focuses on whole regular wave patterns rather than just edge shapes

Compounds

sinusoidal projection
  • Specialized
9.5

A map that shows the equator and east-west lines straight and north-south lines wavy while keeping areas correct

How Wavy

sinusoidal
  • Specialized
1 9.2
wavy
16 1.3
curved
6 1.0
flat
797 1.0

Surface Forms

sinusoidal positive

Morphology

sinusoidal = sinusoid (semi-transparent) = sinus + oid + al

The adjective is regularly formed from the technical noun 'sinusoid' with the productive suffix '-al'.

Etymology

Sinusoidal comes from the Latin word sinus meaning 'curve' or 'fold' and the ending -oid meaning 'like'. It shares the root with sinuous and the math word sine, so sinusoidal is a simple way to say 'like a smooth, regular wave', which explains its use for shapes or signals that rise and fall in gentle curves.