- The definition of frequency is how often something happens.
An example of frequency is a person blinking their eyes 47 times in one minute.
frequency
noun
pl. frequencies- Obsolete
- the condition of being crowded
- a crowd
- the fact of occurring often or repeatedly; frequent occurrence
- the number of times any action or occurrence is repeated in a given period
- Math., Statistics
- the number of times an event, value, or characteristic occurs in a given period
- the ratio of the number of times a characteristic occurs to the number of trials in which it can potentially occur
- Physics the number of periodic oscillations, vibrations, or waves per unit of time: usually expressed in hertz: abbrev. f
Origin of frequency
Middle English ; from French ; from Classical Latin frequentia ; from frequens: see frequentfrequency
noun
pl. fre·quen·cies- The property or condition of occurring at frequent intervals.
- Mathematics & Physics The number of times a specified periodic phenomenon occurs within a specified interval, as:a. The number of repetitions of a complete sequence of values of a periodic function per unit variation of an independent variable.b. The number of complete cycles of a periodic process occurring per unit time.c. The number of repetitions per unit time of a complete waveform, as of an electric current.
- Statistics a. The number of measurements or observations having a certain value or characteristic.b. See relative frequency.
Origin of frequency
Latin frequentia, multitude, from frequēns, frequent-, crowded, numerous, frequent.frequency
(plural frequencies)
- (uncountable) The rate of occurrence of anything; the relationship between incidence and time period.
- With growing confidence, the Viking’s raids increased in frequency.
- The frequency of bus service has been improved from 15 to 12 minutes.
- (uncountable) The property of occurring often rather than infrequently.
- The FAQ addresses questions that come up with some frequency.
- The frequency of the visits was what annoyed him.
- (countable) The quotient of the number of times a periodic phenomenon occurs over the time in which it occurs: .
- The frequency of the musical note A above middle C is 440 oscillations per second.
- The frequency of a wave is its velocity divided by its wavelength : .
- Broadcasting live at a frequency of 98.3 megahertz, we’re your rock alternative!
- The frequency for electric power in the Americas is generally 60 Hz rather than 50.
- (statistics) number of times an event occurred in an experiment (absolute frequency)
- (rate of occurrence): period
- frequent
- frequentative
- frequenter
From Latin frequentia, from frequens.
frequency - Computer Definition
The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) defines frequency as the number of complete cycles of sinusoidal variation per unit time, with the unit of time generally being that of one second. Plotting y = sin x, where x is expressed in radians, yields a sine wave as illustrated in Figure F-8. (From the Latin radius, a radian is a unit of plane angular measurement equivalent to the angle between two radii that enclose a section of a circle's circumference [arc] equal in length to the length of a radius.There are 2 radians in a circle.) A complete sine wave entails a cycle as measured from a point of zero (0) amplitude to a point of maximum positive amplitude (+A), through zero to a point of maximum negative amplitude (
The number of oscillations (vibrations) in one second. Frequency is measured in Hertz (Hz), which is the same as "oscillations per second" or "cycles per second." For example, the alternating current in a wall outlet in the U.S. and Canada is 60Hz. Electromagnetic radiation is measured in kiloHertz (kHz), megahertz (MHz) and gigahertz (GHz). See wavelength, frequency response, audio, carrier and space/time.
