equivalent width A measure of the strength of a spectral line. On a plot of intensity against wavelength, a spectral line appears as a curve with a shape defined by the line profile. The equivalent width is the width of a rectangle centered on a spectral line that, on a plot of intensity against wavelength, has the same area as the line. Related categories • SPECTRA AND SPECTROSCOPY Also on this site: Encyclopedia of Alternative Energy & Sustainable Living Encyclopedia of History |