then the wave profile at a given time 
may be represented by the graph of the function 
[M6.4, P5.6]
is: the 'shape' of a wave at any given time. If the disturbance that constitutes the wave is defined by a function then the wave profile at a given time may be represented by the graph of the function [M6.4, P5.6]
Copyright 1997, The Open University