shortwave

See also: short-wave and short wave

English

WOTD – 13 February 2026

A Realistic DX-300 shortwave (noun sense 1.2.1) receiver tuned to 7.250 megahertz.

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.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ˈʃɔːtweɪv/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /ˈʃoɹtˌweɪv/

• Audio (General American):

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• Hyphenation: short‧wave

Noun

shortwave (plural shortwaves)

2. (physics, telecommunications) 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.

   Synonyms: decameter wave, (initialism) SW

   Coordinate terms: longwave, (initialism) LW, mediumwave, microwave, (initialism) MW

   Shortwaves are longer than microwaves.

   1. (meteorology) Downward radiation in the shortwave (sense 1) frequency range which enters the Earth's atmosphere.
      • 1973 June 28, Richard G. Hendl, Robert A. Skrivanek, “Abstract”, in Statistical Analysis of Shortwave Fadeout Occurrence for the Years 1955 to 1969 (Environmental Research Papers; no. 452), L. G. Hanscom Field, Bedford, Mass.: Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories, Air Force Systems Command, United States Air Force, →OCLC, page iv:

        Shortwave fadeout data for the period 1955 through 1969 were analyzed and correlated with solar flare data for the same period. […] Some doubt is cast on the quality of the shortwave fadeout data during the early part of the period considered.

      • 1995 December, B. R. Barkstrom [et al.], “Empirical Estimates of Shortwave and Longwave Surface Radiation Budget involving CERES Measurements (Subsystem 4.6.0)”, in Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES) Algorithm Theoretical Basis Document (NASA Reference Publication; 1376), volumes III (Cloud Analyses and Determination of Improved Top of Atmosphere Fluxes (Subsystem 4)), Hampton, Va.: Langley Research Center, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, →OCLC, page 208:

        We often think of these surface radiative fluxes in terms of the two broad spectral bands that we have discussed before: shortwave fluxes and longwave fluxes. […] Blue parts of the shortwave radiance are more diffuse than are the red parts of that spectral band.

      • 2012, Viliam Novák, “Evapotranspiration: A Component of the Water Cycle”, in Evapotranspiration in the Soil-Plant-Atmosphere System (Progress in Soil Science), Dordrecht, South Holland; Heidelberg, Baden-Württemberg: Springer, →DOI, →ISBN, page 11:

        [O]nly about half of solar radiation reaching the Earth's atmosphere reaches Earth's surface. The sum of shortwave and longwave radiation reaching Earth's surface is global radiation.

   2. (radio, telecommunications)
      2. A waveband comprising radio waves in the shortwave (sense 1) frequency range, especially when used in broadcasting.

         Many stations broadcast on shortwaves.

         • 1972, Len Buckwalter, 99 Ways to Improve Your Shortwave Listening, Indianapolis, Ind.: H. W. Sams, →ISBN, page 90:

           The fun of listening to shortwave while in a car or boat is diminished by spark-plug noise created while the engine is running.

      4. In full shortwave radio: a radio which is able to receive radio waves in the shortwave (sense 1) waveband.
         • 1941, John Steinbeck, chapter I, in The Log from the Sea of Cortez […], New York, N.Y.: The Viking Press, published 1951, →OCLC, page 7:

           Finally in all the crackle and noise of the short-wave one of our men made contact with another boat.

Alternative forms

• short-wave, short wave

Derived terms

• ultrashortwave

Translations

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

• Burmese: လှိုင်းတို (my) (hluing:tui)
• Catalan: ona curta f
• Chinese:

  Cantonese: 短波 (dyun² bo¹)

  Hokkien: 短波 (tér-pho, té-pho, toán-pho)

  Mandarin: 短波 (zh) (duǎnbō)

• Danish: kortbølge c
• Dutch: kortegolf c
• Finnish: lyhytaalto
• French: onde courte (fr) f
• German: Kurzwelle (de) f
• Gujarati: લઘુ તરંગ (laghu taraṅg)
• Italian: onda corta f
• Japanese: 短波 (ja) (たんぱ, tanpa)
• Korean: 단파(短波) (ko) (danpa)
• Latvian: īsie viļņi m pl, īsviļņi m pl
• Norwegian:

  Bokmål: kortbølge m or f

  Nynorsk: kortbølgje f

• Portuguese: onda curta f
• Romanian: undă scurtă (ro) f
• Spanish: onda corta f
• Swedish: kortvåg (sv) c
• Thai: คลื่นสั้น (th) (klʉ̂ʉn-sân)

downward radiation in the shortwave frequency range which enters the Earth’s atmosphere

• Finnish: lyhytaaltosäteily
• French: please add this translation if you can

waveband comprising radio waves in the shortwave frequency range

• Finnish: lyhytaaltoalue
• French: please add this translation if you can
• Greek: βραχέα κύματα n pl (vrachéa kýmata)

radio which is able to receive radio waves in the shortwave waveband

• Finnish: lyhytaaltovastaanotin
• French: please add this translation if you can

See also

• extremely low frequency (ELF)
• high frequency (HF)
• super high frequency (SHF)
• ultra high frequency (UHF)
• ultra low frequency (ULF)
• very high frequency (VHF)

Adjective

shortwave (not comparable) (radio, telecommunications)

1. Of a radio wave: having a wavelength of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to a frequency between 3 and 30 megahertz.
2. Of radio equipment: capable of receiving or transmitting radio signals at wavelengths in the above range.

Coordinate terms

• longwave
• mediumwave
• microwave

Translations

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)
• Catalan: ona curta f
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 短波 (zh) (duǎnbō)

• Danish: kortbølge
• Dutch: kortegolf c
• Finnish: lyhytaaltoinen
• French: onde courte (fr) f
• Georgian: მოკლეტალღიანი (moḳleṭalɣiani), მოკლეტალღური (moḳleṭalɣuri)
• German: kurzwellig (de)
• Italian: onde corte f pl
• Japanese: 短波 (ja) (たんぱ, tanpa)
• Korean: 단파(短波) (ko) (danpa)
• Latvian: īsviļņi m pl, īsie viļņi m pl
• Malay: gelombang pendek
• Romanian: undă scurtă (ro) f
• Russian: коротковолно́вый (ru) (korotkovolnóvyj), коротково́лновый (ru) (korotkovólnovyj)
• Spanish: please add this translation if you can
• Swedish: kortvågig
• Thai: คลื่นสั้น (th) (klʉ̂ʉn-sân)
• Ukrainian: короткохвильови́й (korotkoxvylʹovýj)
• Vietnamese: sóng ngắn

of radio equipment: capable of receiving or transmitting radio signals at wavelengths in the above range

• Belarusian: караткахва́левы (karatkaxváljevy)
• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 短波 (zh) (duǎnbō)

• Finnish: lyhytaalto-
• Italian: onda corta f
• Russian: коротковолно́вый (ru) (korotkovolnóvyj), коротково́лновый (ru) (korotkovólnovyj)
• Spanish: please add this translation if you can
• Ukrainian: короткохвильови́й (korotkoxvylʹovýj)

Adverb

shortwave (not comparable)

1. (radio, telecommunications) Using radio waves having wavelengths of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to frequencies between 3 and 30 megahertz.

Translations

using radio waves having wavelengths of between 10 and 100 metres, corresponding to frequencies between 3 and 30 megahertz

• Finnish: lyhytaalloilla
• French: please add this translation if you can

Further reading

• shortwave radio on Wikipedia.Wikipedia