Definition
A method of soldering electronic components to a printed circuit board by passing the underside of the board over a standing wave of molten solder. The wave contacts the exposed metal pads and component leads, leaving a soldered joint at every connection point in a single pass.
Plain English
A way of attaching lots of electronic parts to a circuit board at once by sliding the board over a moving ripple of melted solder, which sticks to all the metal points it touches.
Context Anchor
Seen in aircraft electronics and avionics manufacturing or repair discussions, especially when describing how circuit boards are assembled.
Derivation
Called wave soldering because the molten solder is pumped upward into a continuous standing wave, and the board is moved across the crest of that wave. The name describes the physical shape of the solder during the process.
Why Pilots Care
Most modern avionics rely on wave-soldered circuit boards. Knowing the term helps when reading repair station reports or troubleshooting documentation that describes how a board was originally assembled or reworked.
Analogy
Picture sliding the bottom of a board across the top of a small smooth fountain of melted metal, so the metal touches only the places that need to be joined.
Intuition Check
Wave does not mean a radio wave or electrical signal here. It means the physical raised wave shape of the molten solder.
Example Sentence 1
The avionics shop inspected the radio's circuit board for cold joints left over from the original wave soldering process.
Example Sentence 2
Wave soldering ensures reliable connections in aircraft electronic components during manufacturing.