The frequency of an event is the number of times it happens during a particular period.
The frequency of Kara's phone calls increased rapidly. [+ of]
The tanks broke down with increasing frequency.
Synonyms: recurrence, repetition, constancy, periodicity More Synonyms of frequency
2. variable noun
In physics, the frequency of a sound wave or a radio wave is the number of times it vibrates within a specified period of time.
You can't hear waves of such a high frequency.
...a frequency of 24 kilohertz. [+ of]
...low frequency waves.
frequency in British English
(ˈfriːkwənsɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-cies
1.
the state of being frequent; frequent occurrence
2.
the number of times that an event occurs within a given period; rate of recurrence
3. physics
the number of times that a periodic function or vibration repeats itself in a specified time, often 1 second. It is usually measured in hertz
Symbol: ν, f
4. statistics
a.
the number of individuals in a class (absolute frequency)
b.
the ratio of this number to the total number of individuals under survey (relative frequency)
5. ecology
a.
the number of individuals of a species within a given area
b.
the percentage of quadrats that contains individuals of a species
Also called (for senses 1, 2): frequence
Word origin
C16: from Latin frequentia a large gathering, from frequēns numerous, crowded
frequency in American English
(ˈfrikwənsi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈfrequencies
1. Obsolete
a.
the condition of being crowded
b.
a crowd
2.
the fact of occurring often or repeatedly; frequent occurrence
3.
the number of times any action or occurrence is repeated in a given period
4. Ancient Mathematics and Statistics
a.
the number of times an event, value, or characteristic occurs in a given period
b.
the ratio of the number of times a characteristic occurs to the number of trials in which it can potentially occur
5. Physics
the number of periodic oscillations, vibrations, or waves per unit of time: usually expressed in hertz
abbrev. f
Also ˈfrequence (ˈfrikwəns)
Word origin
ME < Fr < L frequentia < frequens: see frequent
frequency in Electrical Engineering
(frikwənsi)
noun
(Electrical engineering: Circuits, Electrical power, Computing and control)
Electrical frequency is the number of complete cycles of an alternating voltage or current in a particular amount of time, measured in hertz.
A radio station pulses current through an antenna at the frequency it has been assigned, producing radio waves that propagate out from the antenna.
When the tube lights, the voltage and frequency across the tube and capacitor typically both drop, thus capacitor current falls toa low but non-zero value.
Electrical frequency is the number of complete cycles of an alternating voltage or current in a particularamount of time, measured in hertz.
frequency modulation, frequency response, frequency spectrum, high frequency, very high frequency
Examples of 'frequency' in a sentence
frequency
Volunteers wore goggles that flashed light into their eyes at a particular frequency.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They appear to be lulled into a false sense of security and save energy by ceasing to emit high frequency sounds that bounce off objects.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
We first lose the ability to detect the sounds of high frequencies.
Christianity Today (2000)
That just happens to be the frequency of vibration that appears to promote bone healing.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The designers envisage a scheme where commuters pay for each journey but the cost reduces with frequency.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Their frequency is much less than the carrier wave frequency.
Schneider, Hermann & Schneider, Leo The Harper Dictionary of Science in Everyday Language (1988)
The highest frequencies give colour to sound.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
These were detected as disturbances in very low frequency radio signals.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Three changes in frequency give three sound vibrations.
Schneider, Hermann & Schneider, Leo The Harper Dictionary of Science in Everyday Language (1988)
Reduce the frequency of the doses as you improve.
Turner, Roger Newman The Hayfever Handbook - a summer survival guide (1988)
Often the vital highest or lowest frequencies are jettisoned too.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Reduce the frequency of complex changes to the tax code.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Recall that the increase in frequency of the sound waves was detected as a rise in pitch when the truck approached.
Schneider, Hermann & Schneider, Leo The Harper Dictionary of Science in Everyday Language (1988)
Giving new freedoms to creatures able to hear frequencies we can't is just asking for trouble.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Different frequencies signal through time, with no clear patterns emerging.
Michael Boulter EXTINCTION: Evolution and the End of Man (2002)
Your brain tries to hear the beat frequency between, which confuses it slightly to phase out your conscious mind and helps you relax.
The Sun (2011)
This seems to have happened with particular frequency in the men's 1500m.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The frequency (the number of waves slapping against you) rises.
Schneider, Hermann & Schneider, Leo The Harper Dictionary of Science in Everyday Language (1988)
The difference is in their frequency ( number of waves per second).
Schneider, Hermann & Schneider, Leo The Harper Dictionary of Science in Everyday Language (1988)
The nature, time and frequency of the journeys being made will determine whether Oyster or other ticket options are the best for the passenger involved.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Talks were said to have been'sensible on both sides' and centred on the number and frequency of instalments that would make up the transfer.
The Sun (2014)
In other languages
frequency
British English: frequency /ˈfriːkwənsɪ/ NOUN
The frequency of an event is the number of times it happens.
The frequency of her phone calls increased.
American English: frequency
Arabic: تَكَرُّر
Brazilian Portuguese: frequencia
Chinese: 频率
Croatian: učestalost
Czech: četnost
Danish: hyppighed
Dutch: frequentie
European Spanish: frecuencia
Finnish: tiheys taajuus
French: fréquence
German: Häufigkeit
Greek: συχνότητα
Italian: frequenza
Japanese: 頻発
Korean: 빈도
Norwegian: hyppighet
Polish: częstość
European Portuguese: frequência
Romanian: frecvență
Russian: частота
Latin American Spanish: frecuencia
Swedish: frekvens
Thai: ความถี่
Turkish: sıklık
Ukrainian: частота
Vietnamese: tần số
All related terms of 'frequency'
low frequency
a radio-frequency band or a frequency lying between 300 and 30 kilohertz
audio frequency
a frequency in the range 20 hertz to 20 000 hertz. A sound wave of this frequency would be audible to the human ear
frequency band
a continuous range of frequencies , esp in the radio spectrum , between two limiting frequencies
gene frequency
the frequency of occurrence of a particular allele in a population
high frequency
a radio-frequency band or radio frequency lying between 3 and 30 megahertz
radio frequency
a frequency or band of frequencies that lie in the range 10 kilohertz to 300 000 megahertz and can be used for radio communications and broadcasting
video frequency
the frequency of a signal conveying the image and synchronizing pulses in a television broadcasting system. It lies in the range from about 50 hertz to 8 megahertz
angular frequency
the frequency of a periodic process, wave system, etc, expressed in radians per second
cutoff frequency
a frequency level above or below which a device fails to respond or operate efficiently
expected frequency
the number of occasions on which an event may be presumed to occur on average in a given number of trials
forcing frequency
the frequency of an oscillating force applied to a system
frequency response
The frequency response of a circuit is the way in which it varies voltage or current with change in frequency.
frequency spectrum
The frequency spectrum of an electrical signal is the distribution of the amplitudes and phases of each frequency component against frequency.
medium frequency
a radio-frequency band or radio frequency lying between 3000 and 300 kilohertz
natural frequency
the frequency at which a system vibrates when set in free vibration
relative frequency
the ratio of the actual number of favourable events to the total possible number of events; often taken as an estimate of probability
spatial frequency
the measure of fine detail in an optical image in terms of cycles per millimetre
frequency distribution
the function of the distribution of a sample corresponding to the probability density function of the underlying population and tending to it as the sample size increases, the set of relative frequencies of sample points falling within given intervals of the range of the random variable
frequency modulation
a method of transmitting information using a radio-frequency carrier wave . The frequency of the carrier wave is varied in accordance with the amplitude and polarity of the input signal , the amplitude of the carrier remaining unchanged
fundamental frequency
of, involving, or comprising a foundation ; basic
intermediate frequency
the frequency to which the signal carrier frequency is changed in a superheterodyne receiver and at which most of the amplification takes place
superhigh frequency
a radio-frequency band or radio frequency lying between 30 000 and 3000 megahertz
ultrahigh frequency
a radio-frequency band or radio frequency lying between 3000 and 300 megahertz
very low frequency
a radio-frequency band or radio frequency lying between 3 and 30 kilohertz
very high frequency
a radio-frequency band or radio frequency lying between 30 and 300 megahertz
extremely high frequency
a radio frequency between 30 000 and 300 000 megahertz
extremely low frequency
a radio frequency or radio-frequency band below 3 kilohertz
automatic frequency control
a system in a radio or television receiver by which the tuning of an incoming signal is accurately maintained
frequency-division multiplex
the use of a common communications channel for sending two or more messages or signals . In frequency-division multiplex the frequency band transmitted by the common channel is split into narrower bands each of which constitutes a distinct channel. In time-division multiplex different channels are established by intermittent connections to the common channel
RFI
RFI is unwanted noise from RF sources .
RFID tag
RFID tags are barcodes that make use of radio waves to send information tracking individual products at every stage, from delivery to stockroom to checkout , in a networked system.
Chinese translation of 'frequency'
frequency
(ˈfriːkwənsɪ)
n
(u)[of event]频(頻)繁性 (pínfánxìng)
(c/u) (Rad) 频(頻)率 (pínlǜ)
to increase in frequency频(頻)率增加 (pínlǜ zēngjiā)
(noun)
Definition
the state of being frequent
The cars broke down with increasing frequency.
Synonyms
recurrence
Police are out in force to prevent a recurrence of the violence.
repetition
He wants to avoid repetition of the confusion.
constancy
periodicity
commonness
frequentness
prevalence
the prevalence of asthma in Britain and Western Europe
Additional synonyms
in the sense of prevalence
the prevalence of asthma in Britain and Western Europe