wave

(noun, verb)

noun

1. one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)

Definition categories: event, motion, movement

2. a movement like that of a sudden occurrence or increase in a specified phenomenon

- a wave of settlers

- troops advancing in waves

Definition categories: act, motility, motion, move, movement

3. (physics) a movement up and down or back and forth

Similar word(s): undulation

Definition categories: event, motion, movement

4. 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

Definition categories: event, rise

5. the act of signaling by a movement of the hand

Similar word(s): wafture, waving

Definition categories: communication, gesture, motion

6. a hairdo that creates undulations in the hair

Definition categories: body, coif, coiffure, hairdo, hairstyle

7. an undulating curve

Similar word(s): undulation

Definition categories: shape, curve

8. a persistent and widespread unusual weather condition (especially of unusual temperatures)

- a heat wave

Definition categories: phenomenon, conditions, weather

9. 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

Definition categories: person, reservist, woman

Sentences with wave as a noun:

- The wave traveled from the center of the lake before breaking on the shore.

- Gravity waves, while predicted by theory for decades, have been notoriously difficult to detect.

- Her hair had a nice wave to it.

- sine wave

- A wave of shoppers stampeded through the door when the store opened for its Christmas discount special.

- A wave of retirees began moving to the coastal area.

- A wave of emotion overcame her when she thought about her son who was killed in battle.

- With a wave of the hand.

verb

1. signal with the hands or nod

- She waved to her friends

- He waved his hand hospitably

Similar word(s): beckon

Definition categories: communication, gesticulate, gesture, motion

2. move or swing back and forth

- She waved her gun

Similar word(s): brandish, flourish

Definition categories: contact, displace, move

3. move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion

- the waves rolled towards the beach

Similar word(s): flap, roll, undulate

Definition categories: motion, move

4. twist or roll into coils or ringlets

Similar word(s): curl

Definition categories: contact, twist

5. set waves in

- she asked the hairdresser to wave her hair

Definition categories: body, arrange, coif, coiffe, coiffure, do, dress, set

Sentences with wave as a verb:

- The flag waved in the gentle breeze.

- I waved goodbye from across the room.

- Jones waves at strike one.

- The starter waved the flag to begin the race.