wave

 
Pronunciation: /weɪv/

verb

  • 1 [no object] move one’s hand to and fro in greeting or as a signal: he waved to me from the train
  • [with object] move (one’s hand or arm, or something held in one’s hand) to and fro: he waved a sheaf of papers in the air
  • [with object] convey (a greeting or other message) by waving one’s hand or something held in it: we waved our farewells [with two objects]: she waved him goodbye
  • [with object and adverbial of direction] instruct (someone) to move in a particular direction by moving one’s hand: he waved her back
  • 2 [no object] move to and fro with a swaying motion while remaining fixed to one point: the flag waved in the wind
  • 3 [with object] style (hair) so that it curls slightly: her hair had been carefully waved for the evening
  • [no object] (of hair) grow with a slight curl: (as adjective waving) thick, waving grey hair sprouted back from his forehead

noun

  • 1a long body of water curling into an arched form and breaking on the shore: he was swept out to sea by a freak wave
  • a ridge of water between two depressions in open water: gulls and cormorants bobbed on the waves
  • a shape regarded as resembling a breaking wave: a wave of treetops stretched to the horizon
  • (the waves) literary the sea.
  • 2a sudden occurrence of or increase in a phenomenon, feeling, or emotion: a wave of strikes had paralysed the government fear came over me in waves
  • 3a gesture or signal made by moving one’s hand to and fro: he gave a little wave and walked off
  • 4a slightly curling lock of hair: his hair was drying in unruly waves
  • [in singular] a tendency to curl in a person’s hair: her hair has a slight natural wave
  • 5 Physics a periodic disturbance of the particles of a substance which may be propagated without net movement of the particles, such as in the passage of undulating motion, heat, or sound. See also standing wave and travelling wave
  • a single curve in the course of this motion.
  • a similar variation of an electromagnetic field in the propagation of light or other radiation through a medium or vacuum.

Phrases

make waves

informal
create a significant impression: he has already made waves as a sculptor
cause trouble: I don’t want to risk her welfare by making waves

Phrasal Verbs

wave something aside

dismiss something as unnecessary or irrelevant: he waved the objection aside and carried on

wave someone/thing down

use one’s hand to give a signal to stop to a driver or vehicle: he waved down a taxi and drove off

Derivatives

waveless

adjective

wave-like

adjective

Origin:

Old English wafian (verb), from the Germanic base of waver; the noun by alteration (influenced by the verb) of Middle English wawe '(sea) wave'

On confusion between wave and waive, see waive (usage).