wave
verb
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Definition of wave
(Entry 1 of 3)
1 : to motion with the hands or with something held in them in signal or salute
2 : to float, play, or shake in an air current : move loosely to and fro : flutter flags waving in the breeze
4 : to become moved or brandished to and fro signs waved in the crowd
5 : to move before the wind with a wavelike motion field of waving grain
6 : to follow a curving line or take a wavy form : undulate
1 : to swing (something) back and forth or up and down
2 : to impart a curving or undulating shape to waved her hair
3a : to motion to (someone) to go in an indicated direction or to stop : signal waved down a passing car
b : to gesture with (the hand or an object) in greeting or farewell or in homage
c : to dismiss or put out of mind : disregard —usually used with aside or off
d : to convey by waving waved farewell
wave
noun (1)Definition of wave (Entry 2 of 3)
1a : a moving ridge or swell on the surface of a liquid (as of the sea)
b : open water
2a : 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: such 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: such 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
7a : 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
noun (2)
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Definition of Wave (Entry 3 of 3)
: a member of the women's component of the U.S. Navy formed during World War II and discontinued in the 1970s
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Other words from wave
Noun (1)
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adjective
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adjective
Synonyms for wave
Synonyms: Verb
beckon, flag, gesture, motion, signal
Synonyms: Noun (1)
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Examples of wave in a Sentence
Verb
We waved to our friends through the window. She was waving in the direction of the bridge. Flags were waving in the breeze. The magician waved his magic wand. The leader of the parade waved a flag. It was so hot that we were all waving our hands in front of our faces to cool off.Noun (1)
The waves crashed onto the rocks. She has a wave in her hair. Waves of warm air washed over us. We got a wave from the Queen. The rabbit disappeared with a wave of the magician's wand.
Recent Examples on the Web: Verb
Local officials seeking re-election this year and their supporters marched or rode in the parade, waving to the crowd and handing out candy. — David Anderson, The Aegis, "Darlington celebrates Independence Day," 1 July 2018 Restorers’ Club made a ceremonial pass through the bridge after the ceremony, with drivers blaring the old style horns and waving to a group of onlookers. — Cain Buchmeier, Post-Tribune, "Antique cars pass through 140-year old bridge for first time since 2012," 27 June 2018 Shaw then stood up and waved to the applauding audience. — Katherine Schaffstall, The Hollywood Reporter, "MTV Movie & TV Awards: Chadwick Boseman Dedicates Award to Waffle House Hero," 19 June 2018 The little girl even greeted the late Bobby by waving to his photo. — refinery29.com, "Bethenny Frankel & Jill Zarin Finally Ended Their RHONY Feud — Here's How," 14 June 2018 Images on social media showed protesters outside the team's Barcelona practice facility waving Palestinian flags and soccer jerseys dabbed with red paint resembling blood stains. — Ruth Eglash, chicagotribune.com, "Argentine soccer team cancels match in Israel amid death threats against Lionel Messi," 6 June 2018 Police said the man waved a knife near the Berliner Dom’s altar. — BostonGlobe.com, "Man with knife, officer wounded in Berlin cathedral shooting," 3 June 2018 At one event in Brooklyn, a video showed Mr. Cuomo waving from the tracks as a train passed at a snail’s pace. — New York Times, "In the Battle Between Cuomo and Nixon, the Subway Becomes a Central Issue," 31 May 2018 Photos appeared to show Ri alongside other North Korean cheerleaders, wearing a black and white hangbok and waving flags showing a unified Korean Peninsula. — James Griffiths, CNN, "Where is Kim Jong Un's wife, Ri Sol Ju?," 26 Apr. 2018Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Every Monday, Rolf Bick stands outside and waves as Harold works his route. — Jennie Key, Cincinnati.com, "Facebook takes notice of praying Rumpke driver," 11 July 2018 Last year, lifeguards had to rescue three or four children in a row after waves had dug five-foot deep entrenchments just two feet off shore, said lifeguard Alec Ayers, 24, of Portage. — Meredith Colias-pete, Post-Tribune, "More than just a day at the beach, lifeguards train to save lives," 10 July 2018 In that time, he’s seen as much as 75 feet of shoreline chewed away in a year by Lake Michigan waves and storms. — Tony Briscoe, chicagotribune.com, "What happens when Lake Superior has too much water? It dumps it into an already overflowing Lake Michigan," 13 July 2018 Those areas could be impacted with heavy rain, strong winds and heavy waves with storm surge along parts of the coast, the centre said. — Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, "Hurricane Chris threatens East Coast with dangerous rip currents through weekend," 11 July 2018 Lifeguards undergo continual drills and physical and medical training, learning how to use rescue boards, how to judge wave and beach conditions. — Meredith Colias-pete, Post-Tribune, "More than just a day at the beach, lifeguards train to save lives," 10 July 2018 Although what had been the Atlantic season’s first hurricane was losing power, residents on islands hit hard by storms last year stocked up on food and water and prepared for possible damaging winds, rains and waves. — Danica Coto, BostonGlobe.com, "Tropical Storm Beryl moving closer to eastern Caribbean," 8 July 2018 People on islands across the region stocked up on food and water and prepared for possible damaging winds, rains and waves. — CBS News, "Tropical Storm Beryl speeding rapidly toward eastern Caribbean," 8 July 2018 Although Beryl, what had been the Atlantic season's first hurricane, was losing power, residents on islands hit hard by storms last year stocked up on food and water and prepared for possible damaging winds, rains and waves. — Danica Coto, Houston Chronicle, "Weakened Beryl moving to Caribbean; Chris forms in Atlantic," 8 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'wave.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for wave
wave
nounFinancial Definition of wave
How It Works
Elliot Wave Theory is a method for predicting stock prices by identifying certain trading patterns. Specifically, the theory states that markets move up in a series of five waves but move down in a series of three waves. The theory looks to investor psychology for key information.
Generally speaking, though, a "wave" is a term used to describe a new way of doing things. For example, Congress could pass new legislation to encourage "crowdfunding," which in turn could drive a new wave of startups who get their capital from online, fund-raising websites. The change could forever change the pathways through which capital reaches companies, and as a result more people may engage in the startup economy. This in turn could create markets for other crowdfunding websites, due diligence consulting firms, startup legal services and branding work.
Why It Matters
It's easy to see how investing ahead of waves could be extremely profitable. New waves can spur significant economic growth in certain sectors, and learning how to identify or predict waves accurately can lead to very good investment decisions.
Source: Investing Answers
wave
verb
English Language Learners Definition of wave
(Entry 1 of 2)
: to move your hand or something held in your hand usually in a repeated motion in order to signal or greet someone
: to float, shake, or move back and forth because of wind
: to move (something) back and forth
wave
nounEnglish Language Learners Definition of wave (Entry 2 of 2)
: an area of moving water that is raised above the main surface of an ocean, a lake, etc.
: something that has the shape or movement of a wave
: a usually repeated movement of your hand or of something held in your hand especially as a signal or greeting
wave
verb
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Kids Definition of wave
(Entry 1 of 2)
1 : to move (as the hand) to and fro as a signal or in greeting
2 : to move (something) back and forth The Black Knight waved his lance weakly over our heads. —Jon Scieszka, Knights of the Kitchen Table
3 : to curve slightly Her hair waves naturally.
4 : to flutter with a rolling movement Flags waved in the wind.
wave
nounKids Definition of wave (Entry 2 of 2)
1 : a moving ridge on the surface of water
2 : a waving motion a wave of the hand
3 : something that swells and dies away A wave of anger came over her.
4 : a rolling movement passing along a surface or through the air waves of grain
5 : a curving shape or series of curving shapes hair with waves
6 : a sudden increase in something a crime wave
7 : a motion that is somewhat like a wave in water and transfers energy from point to point sound waves
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wave
noun
\
Medical Definition of wave
1a : 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, electrical or magnetic intensity, electrical potential, or temperature
b : one complete cycle of such a disturbance
2 : an undulating or jagged line constituting a graphic representation of an action an electroencephalographic wave
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