one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
"The massive wave crashed against the shore, sending spray flying into the air."
a movement like that of a sudden occurrence or increase in a specified phenomenon
"a wave of settlers"
"troops advancing in waves"
(physics) a movement up and down or back and forth
"The scientist explained that light travels as an electromagnetic wave, which is essentially a rhythmic oscillation of electric and magnetic fields moving through space."
something that rises rapidly
"a wave of emotion swept over him"
"there was a sudden wave of buying before the market closed"
"a wave of conservatism in the country led by the hard right"
a hairdo that creates undulations in the hair
"She spent twenty minutes blow-drying her hair to get those perfect beach waves for the summer party."
an undulating curve
"The gentle wave of her skirt caught the light as she walked past the fountain."
a persistent and widespread unusual weather condition (especially of unusual temperatures)
"a heat wave"
a member of the women's reserve of the United States Navy; originally organized during World War II but now no longer a separate branch
"Her grandmother proudly wore her navy blue dress uniform as a retired WAVES, recalling how they served alongside men in the fleet during the war."
A moving disturbance in the level of a body of liquid; an undulation.
"The WAVES officer directed traffic at the naval base entrance during her first week in the Women's Reserve."
A members of the WAVES; a member of the US Naval Reserve (Women's Reserve).
In plain English: A wave is a repeating movement that travels through space or matter, carrying energy without moving the material itself permanently.
"She raised her hand to wave goodbye to her friends."
To move back and forth repeatedly and somewhat loosely.
"The archaic manuscript uses "wave" instead of the modern term to indicate that a claim is being given up."
Obsolete spelling of waive
In plain English: To wave is to move your hand up and down as a greeting or signal.
"She waved hello to her friend from across the street."
Usage: Use this verb to describe hand gestures signaling greeting or farewell, as well as the physical motion of water moving up and down. Distinguish it from similar verbs like "swing," which implies a wider arc around an axis rather than a loose side-to-side movement.
The word "wave" comes from the Old English verb wafian, which originally meant to wander or sway in mind as well as physically move back and forth. It traveled into modern English through Middle English while retaining its core sense of fluctuating motion.