body wave

noun

plural body waves

1

: hair or a hairstyle marked by loose curls of S-shaped waves

also : a hairstyling process for creating body waves

Permanents, which include body waves, add curl or body to naturally straight or very limp hair.

—Consumer Reports

2

: an earthquake vibration transmitted through the earth's interior compare surface wave

Examples of body wave in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Her iconic body wave braid-out has become a defining look—effortless, which many women look to achieve, but much like her approach to fashion. — Mecca Pryor, Essence, 17 Oct. 2025

There are numerous perm types including spiral perms, beach wave perms, pin curl perms, body wave perms, and more. — Marina Johnson, Detroit Free Press, 29 July 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1900, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for body wave

• aftershave
• architrave
• autoclave
• microwave
• misbehave
• agave
• behave
• concave
• conclave
• enclave
• engrave
• enslave