ultrasonic
adjective
ul·tra·son·ic ˌəl-trə-ˈsä-nik 
1
: having a frequency above the human ear's audibility limit of about 20,000 hertz —used of waves and vibrations
2
: utilizing, produced by, or relating to ultrasonic waves or vibrations
ultrasonically
ˌəl-trə-ˈsä-ni-k(ə-)lē
adverb 
Did you know?
Ultrasound, or ultrasonography, works on the principle that sound is reflected at different speeds by tissues or substances of different densities. Ultrasound technology has been used medically since the 1940s. Sonograms, the pictures produced by ultrasound, can reveal heart defects, tumors, and gallstones; since low-power ultrasonic waves don't present any risks to a body, they're most often used to display fetuses during pregnancy in order to make sure they're healthy. Ultrasonics has many other uses, including underwater sonar sensing. High-power ultrasonics are so intense that they're actually used for drilling and welding.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web From the sleek stainless steel design to the ultrasonic cool mist settings, Carepod's award-earning humidifier is a winning self-care gift. 
Shelby Ying Hyde, Harper's BAZAAR, 19 Sep. 2022 With a small team and over 100 ingredients made in house, the bar makes use of the latest tools and techniques such as an ultrasonic machine. Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 22 July 2022 Samsung had to go with side fingerprint readers on the Galaxy Z line, but the Vivo X Fold has two ultrasonic in-display fingerprint readers: one in the smaller outer display and one in the main foldable display. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 12 Apr. 2022 Frick then released the bat, and Flanders ran after it, holding a special ultrasonic microphone connected to a laptop, in order to record its release call. Carolyn Kormann, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2022 They're made of aluminum and the strongest Gorilla Glass (Victus+), have IP68 water resistance so they can be submerged in water, an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, and feature sub-6 and millimeter-wave 5G support. Julian Chokkattu, Wired, 9 Feb. 2022 Rodriguez has studied devices like oil of lemon eucalyptus bracelets and ultrasonic devices, and found none of them to be effective against mosquitos. Lauren Oster, Health.com, 23 Apr. 2021 The precise satellite positioning is overlayed on the HD maps and then verified by the data coming in from the LiDAR, cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors. Michael Harley, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Today's the day to finally make the jump, because Amazon's top-selling ultrasonic toothbrush is currently on sale for just $40. Claire Harmeyer, PEOPLE.com, 12 July 2022 See More
Shelby Ying Hyde, Harper's BAZAAR, 19 Sep. 2022 With a small team and over 100 ingredients made in house, the bar makes use of the latest tools and techniques such as an ultrasonic machine. Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 22 July 2022 Samsung had to go with side fingerprint readers on the Galaxy Z line, but the Vivo X Fold has two ultrasonic in-display fingerprint readers: one in the smaller outer display and one in the main foldable display. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 12 Apr. 2022 Frick then released the bat, and Flanders ran after it, holding a special ultrasonic microphone connected to a laptop, in order to record its release call. Carolyn Kormann, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2022 They're made of aluminum and the strongest Gorilla Glass (Victus+), have IP68 water resistance so they can be submerged in water, an ultrasonic in-display fingerprint sensor, and feature sub-6 and millimeter-wave 5G support. Julian Chokkattu, Wired, 9 Feb. 2022 Rodriguez has studied devices like oil of lemon eucalyptus bracelets and ultrasonic devices, and found none of them to be effective against mosquitos. Lauren Oster, Health.com, 23 Apr. 2021 The precise satellite positioning is overlayed on the HD maps and then verified by the data coming in from the LiDAR, cameras, radar, and ultrasonic sensors. Michael Harley, Forbes, 2 Aug. 2022 Today's the day to finally make the jump, because Amazon's top-selling ultrasonic toothbrush is currently on sale for just $40. Claire Harmeyer, PEOPLE.com, 12 July 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1923, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Medical Definition
ultrasonic
adjective
ul·tra·son·ic -ˈsän-ik
1
a
: having a frequency above the human ear's audibility limit of about 20,000 hertz —used of waves and vibrations
b
: utilizing, produced by, or relating to ultrasonic waves or vibrations
removal of tartar with an ultrasonic scaler
2
: ultrasound