wave
2 ENTRIES FOUND:
waves;
waved;
waving
waves;
waved;
waving
Britannica Dictionary definition of WAVE
1
:
to move your hand or something held in your hand usually in a repeated motion in order to signal or greet someone
[no object]
-
We waved to our friends through the window.
-
They waved at us.
-
She was waving in the direction of the bridge.
[+ object]
-
We waved goodbye [=waved as a way of saying goodbye] to them and drove away.
-
The traffic cop waved cars through. [=waved in a way that told drivers to continue driving through a particular area]
-
We offered to help but he waved us off. [=he waved as a way of telling us that he did not want help]
-
We tried to wave down a taxi. [=to get a taxi to stop for us by waving at its driver]
2
[no object]
:
to float, shake, or move back and forth because of wind
-
Flags were waving in the breeze.
-
fields of waving grain
3
[+ object]
:
to move (something) back and forth
-
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.
4
[+ object]
:
to hold up and show (something) in a threatening way
-
The robber waved a pistol at the clerk.
-
a maniac waving [=brandishing] a knife
5
a
[+ object]
:
to make (someone's hair) curl slightly
— usually used as (be/get) waved
-
She got her hair waved.
b
[no object]
of hair
:
to curl slightly
-
His hair waves naturally.
wave aside
[phrasal verb]
wave (something) aside
or
wave aside (something)
:
to refuse to consider or respond to (something)
-
The officer waved aside my questions.
wave the flag
2
wave
/ˈweɪv/
noun
plural
waves
2
wave
/ˈweɪv/
noun
plural
waves
Britannica Dictionary definition of WAVE
1
[count]
:
an area of moving water that is raised above the main surface of an ocean, a lake, etc.
—
see also tidal wave
-
The waves crashed onto the rocks.
-
ocean waves
-
The motion of the waves (under the boat) made us seasick.
2
[count]
:
something that has the shape or movement of a wave
-
She has a wave in her hair.
-
amber waves of grain
-
Waves of warm air washed over us.
3
[count]
:
a usually repeated movement of your hand or of something held in your hand especially as a signal or greeting
-
He gave me a wave. [=he waved to/at me]
-
We got a wave from the Queen.
-
The rabbit disappeared with a wave of the magician's wand.
-
a kiss and a wave goodbye [=a wave that you use to say goodbye]
4
[count]
a
:
a period of time in which a particular type of activity is being done commonly or repeatedly
—
see also heat wave
-
The tax cut triggered a wave of spending.
-
a crime wave
b
:
a large number of people or things that do something together, are seen together, etc.
-
a new wave of immigrants [=a large number of immigrants arriving at the same time]
-
The attacks came in waves.
5
[count]
a
:
a strong feeling that affects someone suddenly
-
A wave of fatigue swept over me. [=I suddenly became very tired]
-
He was overcome by waves of anger/fear.
b
:
a strong feeling or attitude that is shared by many people at the same time
-
The new school has triggered a wave of optimism [=has made many people feel optimistic] about the public school system.
-
a wave of nostalgia
-
At the age of 80, she's riding a/the wave of renewed interest in her work. [=she's experiencing a time when many people are interested in her work again]
-
a time when the mayor was still riding a wave of public approval
6
[count]
technical
:
an amount of energy (such as light) that moves in a shape resembling a wave from one point to another point
—
see also airwaves, radio wave, shock wave, shortwave, sound wave
7
the wave
:
a movement made by a group of people especially in a stadium or arena in which individual people stand up and then sit down again according to where they are sitting in order to create the appearance of an ocean wave
-
The crowd did the wave between innings.
— called also
(British)
the Mexican wave
make waves
informal
:
to do something that causes people to notice you
-
He's making waves in the music industry.
especially
:
to cause trouble or annoy people by complaining
-
I'm tempted to complain, but I don't want to make waves.
the wave of the future
:
an idea, product, way of thinking, etc., that will become very popular in the future
-
These new video games are the wave of the future.
-
She made a wavelike motion with her arms.
