solitary wave: Meaning and Definition of

sol'itary wave'

Pronunciation: [key]
— Math., Physics. Math.,Physics.
  1. a localized disturbance that propagates like a wave but resembles a particle in that it does not disperse, even if it collides with other such waves.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.