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wave

n. · v.
US //ˈweɪv// UK //wˈeɪv// wave
  1. 1 water movement (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a raised line of water that moves across the surface of the sea or a lake.

    a moving disturbance or undulation in the surface level of a body of liquid.

    Example

    The children spent the afternoon jumping over the small waves at the beach.

    Example

    The storm generated massive waves that crashed against the harbor wall, sending spray high into the air and threatening the coastal road.
  2. 2 hand gesture (n.)
    A2 Elementary

    a movement of your hand from side to side to say hello or goodbye.

    a gesture made by moving the hand back and forth, typically as a greeting, farewell, or signal.

    Example

    She gave a friendly wave to her neighbor as she drove past his house.

    Example

    He offered a final, lingering wave from the train window as it slowly pulled away from the platform.
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  1. 3 sudden increase (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    a sudden increase in a particular feeling, activity, or type of weather.

    a sudden, temporary increase or surge in a phenomenon, emotion, or trend.

    Example

    A sudden wave of panic hit him when he realized he had lost his passport.

    Example

    The country is currently experiencing a heat wave, with temperatures remaining well above the seasonal average for the third consecutive week.
  2. 4 physics/energy (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

    the way that light, sound, or radio signals travel.

    a periodic disturbance in the energy level of a field or medium, such as sound or electromagnetic radiation.

    Example

    Radio waves allow us to transmit music and news over long distances.

    Example

    Physicists study how light behaves both as a particle and as a wave depending on the experimental conditions.
  3. 5 to signal with the hand (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to move your hand from side to side to get someone's attention or say goodbye.

    to move the hand to and fro in greeting or as a signal; functions as both a transitive and intransitive verb.

    Example

    Wave goodbye to your grandmother before we get in the car.

    Example

    The traffic officer waved the waiting cars through the intersection once the pedestrians had safely reached the pavement.
  4. 6 to move in the wind (v.)
    B1 Intermediate

    to move back and forth in the air or wind.

    to move freely to and fro, especially while attached at one end.

    Example

    The national flags were waving proudly in the breeze outside the stadium.

    Example

    Tall grass waved rhythmically across the fields as the summer storm approached from the west.
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