wave
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About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1wave
verb \ˈwāv\wavedwav·ing
Definition of WAVE
intransitive verb
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
transitive verb
1
: to swing (something) back and forth or up and down
2
: to impart a curving or undulating shape to <waved her hair>
3
a : 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>
See Examples of WAVE
- 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.
Origin of WAVE
Middle English, from Old English wafian to wave with the hands; akin to Old English wæfan to clothe and perhaps to Old English wefan to weave
First Known Use: before 12th century
2wave
nounDefinition 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
- 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.
First Known Use of WAVE
1526
Wave
noun \ˈwāv\Definition of WAVE
: a member of the women's component of the United States Navy formed during World War II and discontinued in the 1970s
Origin of WAVE
Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service
First Known Use: 1942
Other History Terms
wave
noun \ˈwāv\ (Medical Dictionary)Medical Definition of WAVE
1
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, 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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