The process by which air molecules surrounding the sound board of a musical instrument uncompress when the sound board flexes back after a compression, causing a slight decrease in air pressure See Section 1 3
In a compressional (logitudinal) wave, it's the part of the wave that is "stretched out" Click here to see a rarefaction picture Back to Top Back to Wave Index
disapproval If you talk about the rarefied atmosphere of a place or institution, you are expressing your disapproval of it, because it has a special social or academic status that makes it very different from ordinary life. It is important for the state's future administrators to get out of the rarefied air of the capital
of high moral or intellectual value; elevated in nature or style; "an exalted ideal"; "argue in terms of high-flown ideals"- Oliver Franks; "a noble and lofty concept"
{s} esoteric; elite; meant only for the initiated or the select few; very refined; of or pertaining to a select group; exalted, elated, euphoric, in high spirits; of extremely high quality in character or style (Literature); having low density, of lower pressure than usual