wave

²wave

noun

Definition of WAVE

1

a : a moving ridge or swell on the surface of a liquid (as of the sea) b : open water

2

a : a shape or outline having successive curves b : a waviness of the hair c : an undulating line or streak or a pattern formed by such lines

3

: something that swells and dies away: as a : a surge of sensation or emotion <a wave of anger swept over her> b : a movement sweeping large numbers in a common direction <waves of protest> c : a peak or climax of activity <a wave of buying>

4

: a sweep of hand or arm or of some object held in the hand used as a signal or greeting

5

: a rolling or undulatory movement or one of a series of such movements passing along a surface or through the air

6

: a movement like that of an ocean wave: as a : a surging movement of a group <a big new wave of women politicians> b : one of a succession of influxes of people migrating into a region c (1) : a moving group of animals of one kind (2) : a sudden rapid increase in a population d : a line of attacking or advancing troops or airplanes e : a display of people in a large crowd (as at a sports event) successively rising, lifting their arms overhead, and quickly sitting so as to form a swell moving through the crowd

7

a : a disturbance or variation that transfers energy progressively from point to point in a medium and that may take the form of an elastic deformation or of a variation of pressure, electric or magnetic intensity, electric potential, or temperature b : one complete cycle of such a disturbance

8

: a marked change in temperature : a period of hot or cold weather

9

: an undulating or jagged line constituting a graphic representation of an action

— wave·less \ˈwāv-ləs\ adjective

— wave·less·ly adverb

— wave·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

Examples of WAVE

1. The waves crashed onto the rocks.
2. She has a wave in her hair.
3. Waves of warm air washed over us.
4. We got a wave from the Queen.
5. The rabbit disappeared with a wave of the magician's wand.

First Known Use of WAVE

1526

Related to WAVE

Synonyms: billow, surge, swell

Related Words: sea(s); surf; breaker, whitecap; comber, curl; riffle, ripple, wavelet; ground swell, roller; tidal wave, tsunami

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