# WAVES

/ˈweɪvz/ (US) · /wˈeɪvz/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/waves
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. moving water

noun · CEFR A1

lines of water that move across the surface of the sea or a lake.

For teachers: disturbances on the surface of a body of water, typically caused by wind or geological activity, that move in a rhythmic pattern.

- The children spent the afternoon jumping over the small waves at the beach.
- The coastal town suffered significant damage after massive waves crashed over the sea wall during the winter storm.

Usage: Countable noun.

### 2. physics/signals

noun · CEFR B2 · Technical

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

For teachers: periodic oscillations that transmit energy through a medium or space, such as sound, light, or electromagnetic radiation.

- Radio waves allow us to listen to music in our cars while we drive.
- The scientist explained how gravitational waves ripple through the fabric of space-time following the collision of two black holes.

Usage: Often used in the plural when referring to a spectrum or continuous signal.

### 4. military abbreviation

noun · CEFR C2 · American English · Archaic

Stands for Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service.

For teachers: Abbreviation for Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service; a historical branch of the U.S. Naval Reserve.

- My grandmother served in the WAVES during the second World War.
- The establishment of the WAVES in 1942 marked a significant shift in the role of women within the United States military infrastructure.

Usage: Usually written in all capitals; historical reference only.

## Examples

- The children played in the small waves at the beach.
- Surfers gathered at the shore early in the morning to catch the largest waves before the wind changed direction.
- The coastal town implemented new sea walls to protect its infrastructure from the increasingly powerful waves generated by seasonal storms and rising sea levels.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.