Distance vs. Wavelength — What's the Difference?
Difference Between Distance and Wavelength
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Compare with Definitions
Distance
Distance is a numerical measurement of how far apart objects or points are. In physics or everyday usage, distance may refer to a physical length or an estimation based on other criteria (e.g.
Wavelength
In physics, the wavelength is the spatial period of a periodic wave—the distance over which the wave's shape repeats. It is the distance between consecutive corresponding points of the same phase on the wave, such as two adjacent crests, troughs, or zero crossings, and is a characteristic of both traveling waves and standing waves, as well as other spatial wave patterns.
Distance
The length of the space between two points
You may have to walk long distances
I cycled the short distance home
Wavelength
The distance between one peak of a wave to the next corresponding peak, or between any two adjacent corresponding points, defined as the speed of a wave divided by its frequency.
Distance
The full length of a race
He claimed the 100 m title in only his second race over the distance
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Wavelength
(physics) The length of a single cycle of a wave, as measured by the distance between one peak or trough of a wave and the next; it is often designated in physics as λ, and corresponds to the velocity of the wave divided by its frequency.
Distance
The avoidance of familiarity; reserve
A mix of warmth and distance makes a good neighbour
Wavelength
(figurative) A person's attitude and way of thinking as compared to another person's.
I think you and I are on a different wavelength.
Distance
Make (someone or something) far off or remote in position or nature
Her mother wished to distance her from the rough village children
Wavelength
The distance (measured in the direction of propagation) between two points in the same phase in consecutive cycles of a wave
Distance
Beat (a horse) by a distance.
Wavelength
A shared orientation leading to mutual understanding;
They are on the same wavelength
Distance
The extent of space between two objects or places; an intervening space.
Distance
The fact or condition of being apart in space; remoteness.
Distance
(Mathematics) The length or numerical value of a straight line or curve.
Distance
The extent of space between points on a measured course.
Distance
The length of a race, especially of a horserace.
Distance
A point or area that is far away
"Telephone poles stretched way into a distance I couldn't quite see" (Leigh Allison Wilson).
Distance
A depiction of a such a point or area.
Distance
A stretch of space without designation of limit; an expanse
A land of few hills and great distances.
Distance
The extent of time between two events; an intervening period.
Distance
A point removed in time
At a distance of 11 years, his memory of the crime was blurry.
Distance
The full period or length of a contest or game
The challenger had never attempted the distance of 12 rounds.
Distance
An amount of progress
The curriculum committee is a distance from where it was last month.
Distance
Difference or disagreement
The candidates could not be at a greater distance on this issue.
Distance
Emotional separateness or reserve; aloofness.
Distance
To place or keep at or as if at a distance
"monks who had distanced themselves from the official ecclesiastical hierarchy by resurrecting the ascetic traditions of the early Church Fathers" (Rosamund Bartlett).
Distance
To cause to appear at a distance.
Distance
To leave far behind; outrun.
Distance
(countable) The amount of space between two points, usually geographical points, usually (but not necessarily) measured along a straight line.
The distance to Petersborough is thirty miles.
From Moscow, the distance is relatively short to Saint Petersburg, relatively long to Novosibirsk, but even greater to Vladivostok.
Distance
Length or interval of time.
Distance
The difference; the subjective measure between two quantities.
We're narrowing the distance between the two versions of the bill.
The distance between the lowest and next gear on my bicycle is annoying.
Distance
Remoteness of place; a remote place.
Distance
Remoteness in succession or relation.
The distance between a descendant and his ancestor
Distance
A space marked out in the last part of a racecourse.
Distance
The entire amount of progress to an objective.
He had promised to perform this task, but did not go the distance.
Distance
A withholding of intimacy; alienation; variance.
The friendship did not survive the row: they kept each other at a distance.
Distance
The remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, respect; ceremoniousness.
Distance
The space measured back from the winning-post which a racehorse running in a heat must reach when the winner has covered the whole course, in order to run in the final heat.
Distance
(transitive) To move away (from) someone or something.
He distanced himself from the comments made by some of his colleagues.
Distance
(transitive) To leave at a distance; to outpace, leave behind.
Distance
(transitive) To lose interest in a specific issue.
Distance
The space between two objects; the length of a line, especially the shortest line joining two points or things that are separate; measure of separation in place.
Every particle attracts every other with a force . . . inversely proportioned to the square of the distance.
Distance
Remoteness of place; a remote place.
Easily managed from a distance.
'T is distance lends enchantment to the view.
[He] waits at distance till he hears from Cato.
Distance
A space marked out in the last part of a race course.
The horse that ran the whole field out of distance.
Distance
Relative space, between troops in ranks, measured from front to rear; - contrasted with interval, which is measured from right to left.
Distance
Space between two antagonists in fencing.
Distance
The part of a picture which contains the representation of those objects which are the farthest away, esp. in a landscape.
Distance
Ideal disjunction; discrepancy; contrariety.
Distance
Length or interval of time; period, past or future, between two eras or events.
Ten years' distance between one and the other.
The writings of Euclid at the distance of two thousand years.
Distance
The remoteness or reserve which respect requires; hence, respect; ceremoniousness.
I hope your modestyWill know what distance to the crown is due.
'T is by respect and distance that authority is upheld.
Distance
A withholding of intimacy; alienation; coldness; disagreement; variance; restraint; reserve.
Setting them [factions] at distance, or at least distrust amongst themselves.
On the part of Heaven,Now alienated, distance and distaste.
Distance
Remoteness in succession or relation; as, the distance between a descendant and his ancestor.
Distance
The interval between two notes; as, the distance of a fourth or seventh.
If a man makes me keep my distance, the comfort is he keeps his at the same time.
Distance
To place at a distance or remotely.
I heard nothing thereof at Oxford, being then miles distanced thence.
Distance
To cause to appear as if at a distance; to make seem remote.
His peculiar art of distancing an object to aggrandize his space.
Distance
The property created by the space between two objects or points
Distance
A distant region;
I could see it in the distance
Distance
Size of the gap between two places;
The distance from New York to Chicago
He determined the length of the shortest line segment joining the two points
Distance
Indifference by personal withdrawal;
Emotional distance
Distance
The interval between two times;
The distance from birth to death
It all happened in the space of 10 minutes
Distance
A remote point in time;
If that happens it will be at some distance in the future
At a distance of ten years he had forgotten many of the details
Distance
Keep at a distance;
We have to distance ourselves from these events in order to continue living
Distance
Go far ahead of;
He outdistanced the other runners
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