frequency

 
Pronunciation: /ˈfriːkw(ə)nsi/

noun (plural frequencies)

  • 1 [mass noun] the rate at which something occurs over a particular period of time or in a given sample: an increase in the frequency of accidents due to increased overtime
  • the fact or state of being frequent or happening often.
  • 2the rate per second of a vibration constituting a wave, either in a material (as in sound waves), or in an electromagnetic field (as in radio waves and light): different thicknesses of glass will absorb different frequencies of sound (Symbol: f or ν)
  • the particular waveband at which radio signals are broadcast or transmitted: a radio station on a single AM radio frequency [mass noun]: a coding sequence to ensure that everyone changes frequency in the correct manner

Origin:

mid 16th century (gradually superseding late Middle English frequence; originally denoting a gathering of people): from Latin frequentia, from frequens, frequent- 'crowded, frequent'

Spelling help

Remember that frequency and the related word frequent are spelled with -quen- in the middle.