wave
Noun:
- A moving ridge or swell on the surface of a body of water: A wave is a ridge of water, especially on the sea, that moves across the surface.
- A shape or pattern with a series of curves: A wave can refer to a line or form that has a smooth, repeating, up-and-down or back-and-forth shape.
- A sudden increase or surge of a feeling, activity, or phenomenon: A wave can describe a sudden, powerful occurrence or increase of something intangible, like an emotion or a trend.
- A gesture made by moving the hand or an object back and forth: A wave is the act of moving your hand or something held in your hand from side to side as a signal or greeting.
- (Physics) A disturbance that transfers energy through a medium or space: In physics, a wave is a periodic disturbance that travels through space or matter, transferring energy without permanently displacing the medium (e.g., sound waves, light waves).
Verb:
- To move one's hand or an object back and forth as a signal: To wave means to move your hand or something you are holding from side to side to greet someone, attract attention, or give a signal.
- To move freely back and forth or up and down: To wave means to move loosely and smoothly with a swaying or fluttering motion.
- To form into curves or rolls: To wave means to arrange hair into a series of curls or undulations.
- To brandish or flourish: To wave can mean to hold something up and move it around, often to show it or to direct others.
Noun:
- The surfer rode a large wave to the shore.
- Her hair had a natural wave to it.
- A wave of nostalgia hit her when she smelled the ocean air.
- He gave a friendly wave from across the street.
- Sound travels in waves.
Verb:
- She waved goodbye as the train left the station.
- The flag waved proudly in the wind.
- She decided to wave her hair for the party.
- The conductor waved his baton to begin the symphony.
"Make waves": To cause trouble or create a significant, often disruptive, impact.
- The new policy is sure to make waves within the company.
"Catch the wave": To take advantage of a trend or opportunity at the right moment.
- The company caught the wave of digital transformation early.
"A wave of the hand": A dismissive gesture, indicating that something is unimportant or should be ignored.
- He dismissed the criticism with a wave of the hand.
Wavy (adj): Having curves or undulations.
- The road followed the wavy coastline.
Wavelength (n): The distance between successive crests of a wave, especially in physics; also used figuratively to mean shared understanding.
- They are on the same wavelength about the project.
Microwave (n): A type of electromagnetic wave; also a kitchen appliance that uses such waves to heat food. (Listed as a related compound word.)
- Tidal wave (n): An exceptionally large ocean wave, often caused by an earthquake.
- Noun: Surge, swell, ripple, undulation, gesture, curl.
- Verb: Flutter, sway, brandish, flourish, gesture, signal, beckon.
Wave down: To signal for a vehicle to stop by waving your hand.
- She managed to wave down a taxi.
Wave aside/away: To dismiss or reject something, often with a hand gesture.
- He waved aside my concerns and continued with the plan.
Wave off: To signal for someone to leave or to say goodbye by waving; to dismiss.
- We waved him off at the airport.
The next/big wave: The next important trend or development.
- Investors are always looking for the next big wave in technology.
Ride the wave: To successfully handle or benefit from a situation that is developing quickly.
- The startup is riding the wave of its recent success.
- 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
- a persistent and widespread unusual weather condition (especially of unusual temperatures)
- a heat wave
- an undulating curve
- a hairdo that creates undulations in the hair
- the act of signaling by a movement of the hand
- 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
- (physics) a movement up and down or back and forth
- a movement like that of a sudden occurrence or increase in a specified phenomenon
- a wave of settlers
- troops advancing in waves
- one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water)
- set waves in
- she asked the hairdresser to wave her hair
- twist or roll into coils or ringlets
- curl my hair, please
- move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion
- The curtains undulated
- the waves rolled towards the beach
- move or swing back and forth
- She waved her gun
- signal with the hands or nod
- She waved to her friends
- He waved his hand hospitably