TERMIUM Plus®
From: Translation Bureau
On social media
Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.
PROPAGATION SOUND WAVES [8 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2015-03-12
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Meteorology
- Acoustics (Physics)
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- anomalous propagation of sound
1, record 1, English, anomalous%20propagation%20of%20sound
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Propagation of sound waves to distances from their source greater than can be accounted for by straight-line propagation. 2, record 1, English, - anomalous%20propagation%20of%20sound
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Météorologie
- Acoustique (Physique)
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- propagation anormale du son
1, record 1, French, propagation%20anormale%20du%20son
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Propagation des ondes sonores à des distances de leur source supérieures à celle estimée pour une propagation rectiligne. 2, record 1, French, - propagation%20anormale%20du%20son
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Meteorología
- Acústica (Física)
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- propagación anómala del sonido
1, record 1, Spanish, propagaci%C3%B3n%20an%C3%B3mala%20del%20sonido
feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Propagación de las ondas sonoras desde el lugar de origen a distancias mayores que las que corresponderían a una propagación rectilínea. 1, record 1, Spanish, - propagaci%C3%B3n%20an%C3%B3mala%20del%20sonido
Record 2 - internal organization data 2012-06-05
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Internet and Telematics
- Telephone Wires and Cables
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- acoustic delay line
1, record 2, English, acoustic%20delay%20line
correct, officially approved
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- sonic delay line 1, record 2, English, sonic%20delay%20line
correct, officially approved
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A delay line whose operation is based on the time of propagation of sound waves in a given medium. [Definition officially approved by GESC. ] 2, record 2, English, - acoustic%20delay%20line
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
acoustic delay line; sonic delay line: terms officially approved by the Government EDP (Electronic Data Processing) Standards Committee (GESC). 3, record 2, English, - acoustic%20delay%20line
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Internet et télématique
- Câbles et fils téléphoniques
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- ligne à retard acoustique
1, record 2, French, ligne%20%C3%A0%20retard%20acoustique
correct, feminine noun, officially approved
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
- ligne à retard sonique 2, record 2, French, ligne%20%C3%A0%20retard%20sonique
correct, feminine noun, officially approved
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Ligne à retard dont le fonctionnement est basé sur le temps de propagation des ondes sonores dans un milieu déterminé. [Définition uniformisée par le CNGI.] 3, record 2, French, - ligne%20%C3%A0%20retard%20acoustique
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 OBS
ligne à retard acoustique; ligne à retard sonique: termes uniformisés par le Comité des normes gouvernementales en informatique (CNGI). 4, record 2, French, - ligne%20%C3%A0%20retard%20acoustique
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Internet y telemática
- Cables e hilos telefónicos
Record 2, Main entry term, Spanish
- línea de retardo sónico
1, record 2, Spanish, l%C3%ADnea%20de%20retardo%20s%C3%B3nico
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 2, Synonyms, Spanish
- línea de atraso acústico 2, record 2, Spanish, l%C3%ADnea%20de%20atraso%20ac%C3%BAstico
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Línea de retardo que encierra un medio que reacciona ante la propagación de las ondas sonoras. 3, record 2, Spanish, - l%C3%ADnea%20de%20retardo%20s%C3%B3nico
Record 3 - internal organization data 2010-04-12
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Acoustics (Physics)
- Building Insulation and Acoustical Design
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- mean free path
1, record 3, English, mean%20free%20path
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The distance between successive reflections traveled by sound waves in an enclosure, averaged over time and all initial directions of propagation. 2, record 3, English, - mean%20free%20path
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Acoustique (Physique)
- Isolation et acoustique architecturale
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- libre parcours moyen
1, record 3, French, libre%20parcours%20moyen
correct, masculine noun, standardized
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Distance moyenne parcourue par une onde acoustique, dans une enceinte close, entre deux réflexions successives. [Définition normalisée par l'AFNOR et reproduite avec son autorisation]. 2, record 3, French, - libre%20parcours%20moyen
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
[...] il est [...] possible [...] de définir le parcours moyen qu'une onde peut parcourir dans une salle quelconque, entre deux réflexions successives. C'est ce parcours K que l'on appelle libre parcours moyen : il est égal au produit de la célérité du son c par l'intervalle de temps moyen séparant deux réflexions successives. 3, record 3, French, - libre%20parcours%20moyen
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 OBS
libre parcours moyen : terme normalisé par l'AFNOR. 4, record 3, French, - libre%20parcours%20moyen
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 2006-10-16
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Space Physics
- Electromagnetic Radiation
- Atmospheric Physics
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- atmospheric refraction
1, record 4, English, atmospheric%20refraction
correct, officially approved
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The change in the direction of propagation of electromagnetic radiation or sound waves in traversing the atmosphere. 2, record 4, English, - atmospheric%20refraction
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Atmospheric refraction (due to the curve of the Earth’s surface and the variation of atmospheric density with height, in turn dependent on meteorological conditions) is the effect which makes the Sun (or other celestial body) look slightly higher in the sky than its true astronomical position. 3, record 4, English, - atmospheric%20refraction
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
[Changes in the direction of propagation of electromagnetic radiation or sound waves] are caused by gradients in the density of the air. 2, record 4, English, - atmospheric%20refraction
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 2 OBS
atmospheric refraction: term officially approved by the RADARSAT-2 Terminology Approval Group (RTAG). 4, record 4, English, - atmospheric%20refraction
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Physique spatiale
- Rayonnements électromagnétiques
- Physique de l'atmosphère
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- réfraction atmosphérique
1, record 4, French, r%C3%A9fraction%20atmosph%C3%A9rique
correct, feminine noun, officially approved
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Changement de la direction de propagation d'une onde électromagnétique, déterminée par les variations de la vitesse de propagation dans l'atmosphère, milieu optiquement non homogène, qui se traduit par une courbure du rayonnement qui traverse celle-ci. 2, record 4, French, - r%C3%A9fraction%20atmosph%C3%A9rique
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Réfraction atmosphérique. L'atmosphère dévie légèrement les rayons lumineux, d'un angle qui dépend des conditions atmosphériques et de l'angle de visée. 3, record 4, French, - r%C3%A9fraction%20atmosph%C3%A9rique
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 OBS
réfraction atmosphérique : terme uniformisé par le Groupe de travail de la terminologie de RADARSAT-2 (GTTR). 4, record 4, French, - r%C3%A9fraction%20atmosph%C3%A9rique
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Física espacial
- Radiación electromagnética
- Física de la atmósfera
Record 4, Main entry term, Spanish
- refracción atmosférica 1, record 4, Spanish, refracci%C3%B3n%20atmosf%C3%A9rica
Record 4, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 4, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Curvatura de las ondas electromagnéticas, y en particular los rayos luminosos, al pasar a través de la atmósfera terrestre. Se debe a variaciones en el índice de refracción asociadas a diferencias de densidad entre capas adyacentes. 1, record 4, Spanish, - refracci%C3%B3n%20atmosf%C3%A9rica
Record 5 - internal organization data 2004-11-29
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Mineralogy
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- anisotropic crystal
1, record 5, English, anisotropic%20crystal
correct
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 OBS
All crystals are anisotropic relative to some properties, e. g. propagation of sound waves. 2, record 5, English, - anisotropic%20crystal
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Minéralogie
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- cristal anisotrope
1, record 5, French, cristal%20anisotrope
correct, masculine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Dans un corps isotrope, la matière répartie n'importe comment n'a pas de propriété particulière suivant les directions. Dans un cristal qui est anisotrope, il existe suivant chacune des directions envisagées des différences de distance entre les éléments, ce qui permet de comprendre les différences dans les constantes physiques suivant les directions. 2, record 5, French, - cristal%20anisotrope
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 2 CONT
Les cristaux anisotropes (biréfringents), c'est-à-dire ceux de tous les autres systèmes modifient la lumière polarisée et apparaissent lumineux et colorés entre nicols croisés. 3, record 5, French, - cristal%20anisotrope
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Mineralogía
Record 5, Main entry term, Spanish
- cristal anisótropo
1, record 5, Spanish, cristal%20anis%C3%B3tropo
correct, masculine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 5, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Los cristales son homogéneos. Son, también, anisótropos: muchas de sus propiedades físicas y mecánicas varían según la dirección en que se efectúe la observación. 1, record 5, Spanish, - cristal%20anis%C3%B3tropo
Record 6 - internal organization data 2004-03-19
Record 6, English
Record 6, Subject field(s)
- Space Physics
Record 6, Main entry term, English
- magnetosonic wave
1, record 6, English, magnetosonic%20wave
correct, standardized
Record 6, Abbreviations, English
Record 6, Synonyms, English
- magneto-sonic wave 2, record 6, English, magneto%2Dsonic%20wave
Record 6, Textual support, English
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Magnetohydrodynamic wave whose propagation velocity depends on the temperature of the medium. [Definition standardized by ISO.] 3, record 6, English, - magnetosonic%20wave
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 CONT
The existense of a conducting layer in the upper atmosphere results also in many other interesting phenomena. Around the plasma density maximum F-layer, ... a so-called ionospheric waveguide is formed for magnetosonic waves. 4, record 6, English, - magnetosonic%20wave
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 OBS
These waves resemble sound waves, from which they differ, however, in that the directions of particle movement and wave propagation are not parallel. 3, record 6, English, - magnetosonic%20wave
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 2 OBS
magnetosonic wave: term standardized by ISO. 5, record 6, English, - magnetosonic%20wave
Record 6, French
Record 6, Domaine(s)
- Physique spatiale
Record 6, Main entry term, French
- onde magnétosonore
1, record 6, French, onde%20magn%C3%A9tosonore
correct, feminine noun, standardized
Record 6, Abbreviations, French
Record 6, Synonyms, French
- onde magnétoacoustique 2, record 6, French, onde%20magn%C3%A9toacoustique
feminine noun
Record 6, Textual support, French
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Onde magnétohydrodynamique dont la vitesse de propagation dépend de la température du milieu. [Définition normalisée par l'ISO.] 3, record 6, French, - onde%20magn%C3%A9tosonore
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Ces ondes, qui se rapprochent des ondes sonores, en diffèrent notamment par le fait que la direction du mouvement des particules n'est en général pas parallèle à la direction de propagation de l'onde. 3, record 6, French, - onde%20magn%C3%A9tosonore
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 2 OBS
onde magnétosonore : terme normalisé par l'ISO. 4, record 6, French, - onde%20magn%C3%A9tosonore
Record 6, Spanish
Record 6, Textual support, Spanish
Record 7 - internal organization data 2001-10-01
Record 7, English
Record 7, Subject field(s)
- Acoustics (Physics)
Record 7, Main entry term, English
- ultrasonics
1, record 7, English, ultrasonics
correct
Record 7, Abbreviations, English
Record 7, Synonyms, English
- supersonics 2, record 7, English, supersonics
correct, obsolete
Record 7, Textual support, English
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The science of ultrasonic sound waves. 3, record 7, English, - ultrasonics
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Ultrasonics is the general term for the study and application of ultrasonic sound and vibrations. 4, record 7, English, - ultrasonics
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 2 CONT
... ultrasonics ... involves research into acoustical phenomena whose vibration rate is above the audible range (i.e., roughly 20,000 hertz) .... 5, record 7, English, - ultrasonics
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 OBS
At one time called supersonics, the term ultrasonics is now accepted to distinguish this area of high-frequency sound propagation from the cases of supersonic aircraft, supersonic fluid flow, and shock waves in fluids, which have to do with speeds higher than the speeds of sound. 2, record 7, English, - ultrasonics
Record 7, French
Record 7, Domaine(s)
- Acoustique (Physique)
Record 7, Main entry term, French
- ultracoustique
1, record 7, French, ultracoustique
correct, feminine noun
Record 7, Abbreviations, French
Record 7, Synonyms, French
Record 7, Textual support, French
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 CONT
L'étude des propriétés des ondes ultrasonores, des moyens d'émission et de détection, de leurs effets physiques, chimiques et biologiques, de leurs applications à la recherche fondamentale ou appliquée, à la médecine ou à l'industrie, constitue un chapitre [...] des sciences physiques que l'on appelle ultracoustique. 1, record 7, French, - ultracoustique
Record 7, Spanish
Record 7, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Acústica (Física)
Record 7, Main entry term, Spanish
- acústica del ultrasonido
1, record 7, Spanish, ac%C3%BAstica%20del%20ultrasonido
correct, feminine noun
Record 7, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 7, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 7, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Estudio de las ondas de presión cuya frecuencia se encuentra por encima de los límites audibles (20 kilociclos por segundo), pero que son de la misma naturaleza que las ondas sonoras. 2, record 7, Spanish, - ac%C3%BAstica%20del%20ultrasonido
Record 8 - internal organization data 2001-04-12
Record 8, English
Record 8, Subject field(s)
- Acoustics (Physics)
- Hydrology and Hydrography
Record 8, Main entry term, English
- underwater acoustics
1, record 8, English, underwater%20acoustics
correct
Record 8, Abbreviations, English
Record 8, Synonyms, English
- ocean acoustics 2, record 8, English, ocean%20acoustics
Record 8, Textual support, English
Record number: 8, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Study of the propagation of sound waves in water, especially in the oceans, and of phenomena produced by these sound waves. 1, record 8, English, - underwater%20acoustics
Record 8, French
Record 8, Domaine(s)
- Acoustique (Physique)
- Hydrologie et hydrographie
Record 8, Main entry term, French
- acoustique sous-marine
1, record 8, French, acoustique%20sous%2Dmarine
correct, feminine noun
Record 8, Abbreviations, French
Record 8, Synonyms, French
Record 8, Textual support, French
Record number: 8, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Étude de la production, de la transmission et de la réception des sons dans les grandes masses d'eau, et plus particulièrement dans les mers. 2, record 8, French, - acoustique%20sous%2Dmarine
Record 8, Spanish
Record 8, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Acústica (Física)
- Hidrología e hidrografía
Record 8, Main entry term, Spanish
- acústica submarina
1, record 8, Spanish, ac%C3%BAstica%20submarina
feminine noun
Record 8, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 8, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 8, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)
Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.
Writing tools
The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies
Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified:


