wave

noun countable

UK /weɪv/

Word Forms

singular	wave
plural	waves

1
Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬a line of water that rises up on the surface of a sea, lake, or river
The boat was smashed by a huge wave.
Children swam and played in the waves.
Synonyms and related words
Tides and waves
backwash
billow
breaker
1. 1a
  
  the waves
  plural literarythe sea
  Synonyms and related words
  Seas and oceans
  the brine
  the briny
  the Caribbean
2
a sudden increase in a particular type of behaviour or activity, especially one that is unpleasant or not welcome
wave of:
A fresh wave of selling sent technology stocks even lower.
a frightening wave of drug-related killings
Synonyms and related words
Rates of increase and the process of increasing
uptick
increase
growth
1. 2a
  a large number of people moving or arriving somewhere at the same time
  wave of:
  Waves of protesters began arriving at the stadium.
  in waves:
  Demonstrators came to the rally in waves.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for groups of people
  age group
  array
  assemblage
2. 2b
  a period of activity that is part of a series of similar periods
  Much of Dresden was destroyed by wave after wave of bombing.
  Synonyms and related words
  Individual stages of events and processes
  episode
  gradation
  in/during the heat of something
3
a sudden strong feeling or emotion that a person or group of people has
wave of:
They were overcome by a wave of horror at the news.
The scandal set off a wave of anger among local residents.
She felt a wave of tiredness sweep over her.
Synonyms and related words
Sudden instances of a particular emotion
fit
impulse
surge
4
a movement of your hand used for saying hello or goodbye to someone or for giving a signal
Jack walked away with a wave.
Synonyms and related words
Gestures used to say hello or goodbye
air kiss
air kissing
blow (someone) a kiss
1. 4a
  the action of moving an object in the air, especially in order to give a signal
  With a wave of the flag, the cars raced away.
  Synonyms and related words
  To use a particular gesture to communicate something
  acknowledge
  bat your eyes/eyelashes
  beckon
2. 4b
  Americana Mexican wave
  Synonyms and related words
  To use a particular gesture to communicate something
  acknowledge
  bat your eyes/eyelashes
  beckon
  Synonyms and related words
  Audiences
  audience
  box office
  bums on seats
5
physicsthe way in which sound, light, a radio signal etc travels. It is represented by a line that curves upwards and then downwards again many times.
Synonyms and related words
Physical forces and processes
absorbance
air resistance
amplitude
Synonyms and related words
Television and radio waves
airwaves
frequency
hertz
Synonyms and related words
Relating to sound
above
acoustic
acoustics
1. 5a
  a shape that has a series of curves, or a single one of these curves
  Synonyms and related words
  Rounded and circular shapes
  ball
  balloon
  band
See alsolong wave
See alsomedium wave
See alsoshort wave
6
a slight curl in a person’s hair
Synonyms and related words
General words for hair and amounts of hair
a bald patch
a lock of hair
alopecia

phrases

make waves

wave

noun countable

US /weɪv/

Word Forms

singular	wave
plural	waves

1
Sound Effect ♬♬♬♬♬♬a line of water that rises up on the surface of an ocean, lake, or river
The boat was smashed by a huge wave.
Children swam and played in the waves.
Synonyms and related words
Tides and waves
backwash
billow
breaker
1. 1a
  
  the waves
  plural literarythe sea
  Synonyms and related words
  Seas and oceans
  the brine
  the briny
  the Caribbean
2
a sudden increase of a particular type of behavior or activity, especially one that is unpleasant or not welcome
wave of:
A fresh wave of selling sent technology stocks even lower.
a frightening wave of drug-related killings
Synonyms and related words
Rates of increase and the process of increasing
uptick
increase
growth
1. 2a
  a large number of people moving or arriving somewhere at the same time
  wave of:
  Waves of protesters began arriving at the stadium.
  in waves:
  Demonstrators came to the rally in waves.
  Synonyms and related words
  General words for groups of people
  age group
  array
  assemblage
2. 2b
  a period of activity that is part of a series of similar periods
  Much of Dresden was destroyed by wave after wave of bombing.
  Synonyms and related words
  Individual stages of events and processes
  episode
  gradation
  in/during the heat of something
3
a sudden strong feeling or emotion that a person or group of people has
wave of:
They were overcome by a wave of horror at the news.
The scandal set off a wave of anger among local residents.
She felt a wave of tiredness sweep over her.
Synonyms and related words
Sudden instances of a particular emotion
fit
impulse
surge
4
a movement of your hand used for saying hello or goodbye to someone or for giving a signal
Heidi walked away with a wave.
Synonyms and related words
Gestures used to say hello or goodbye
air kiss
air kissing
blow (someone) a kiss
1. 4a
  the action of moving an object in the air, especially in order to give a signal
  With a wave of the flag, the cars raced away.
  Synonyms and related words
  To use a particular gesture to communicate something
  acknowledge
  bat your eyes/eyelashes
  beckon
2. 4b
  Americana movement that a crowd of people makes when they stand up in rows and each row raises their arms as they stand
  Synonyms and related words
  To use a particular gesture to communicate something
  acknowledge
  bat your eyes/eyelashes
  beckon
5
physicsthe way in which sound, light, a radio signal, etc. travels. It is represented by a line that curves upward and then downward again many times.
Synonyms and related words
Physical forces and processes
absorbance
air resistance
amplitude
Synonyms and related words
Television and radio waves
airwaves
frequency
hertz
Synonyms and related words
Relating to sound
above
acoustic
acoustics
1. 5a
  a shape that has a series of curves, or a single one of these curves
  Synonyms and related words
  Rounded and circular shapes
  ball
  balloon
  band
See alsolong wave
See alsomedium wave
See alsoshort wave
6
a slight curl in a person’s hair
Synonyms and related words
General words for hair and amounts of hair
a bald patch
a lock of hair
alopecia

phrases

make waves

the wave of the future

wave

verb

UK /weɪv/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	wave
he/she/it	waves
present participle	waving
past tense	waved
past participle	waved

1
intransitive/transitive to move your hand to say hello or goodbye or as a signal
He smiled and waved when he saw me.
‘Aren’t they beautiful?’ Don said, waving his hand at the mountains.
wave to:
Prince Charles waved to the crowd.
wave at:
She waved at her parents as the bus pulled away.
wave goodbye (to someone):
Wave goodbye to Grandma, Charlie.
Synonyms and related words
Gestures used to say hello or goodbye
air kiss
air kissing
blow (someone) a kiss
1. 1a
  transitive to move your hand in order to tell someone to move, leave, or stop annoying you
  wave someone away/off/on:
  He waved me away when I offered to help.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move your limbs and appendages
  reach out
  reach
  kick
2
intransitive to move smoothly and gently from side to side
All around me I saw tall trees waving in the wind.
Synonyms and related words
To move up and down or backwards and forwards
swing
bounce
rock
1. 2a
  transitive to move something around in the air
  wave something around:
  A man walked into the shop, waving a gun around.
  wave something at someone:
  He waved his finger at Lucy in a threatening manner.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move up and down or backwards and forwards
  swing
  bounce
  rock
3
intransitive if hair waves, it forms slight curls
Synonyms and related words
What hair can do
flow
grey
grow out

phrases

wave something goodbye/wave goodbye to something

phrasal verbs

wave aside

wave down

wave off

wave through

wave

verb

US /weɪv/

Word Forms

present tense
I/you/we/they	wave
he/she/it	waves
present participle	waving
past tense	waved
past participle	waved

1
intransitive/transitive to move your hand to say hello or goodbye or as a signal
He smiled and waved when he saw me.
“Aren’t they beautiful?” Don said, waving his hand at the mountains.
wave to:
Mrs. Clinton waved to the crowd.
wave at:
She waved at her parents as the bus pulled away.
wave goodbye (to someone):
Wave goodbye to Grandma, Charlie.
Synonyms and related words
Gestures used to say hello or goodbye
air kiss
air kissing
blow (someone) a kiss
1. 1a
  transitive to move your hand in order to tell someone to move, leave, or stop annoying you
  wave someone away/off/on:
  He waved me away when I offered to help.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move your limbs and appendages
  spread
  fold your arms/hands
  bend
2
intransitive to move smoothly and gently from side to side
All around me I saw tall trees waving in the wind.
Synonyms and related words
To move up and down or backwards and forwards
swing
bounce
rock
1. 2a
  transitive to move something around in the air
  wave something around:
  A man walked into the store, waving a gun around.
  wave something at someone:
  He waved his finger at Lucy in a threatening manner.
  Synonyms and related words
  To move up and down or backwards and forwards
  swing
  bounce
  rock
3
intransitive if hair waves, it forms slight curls
Synonyms and related words
What hair can do
flow
gray
grow out

phrases

wave something goodbye/wave goodbye to something

phrasal verbs

wave aside

wave down

wave off

wave through

wave ​‌‌‌

the waves

wave ​‌‌‌

the waves

wave ​‌‌

wave ​‌‌

wave

wave

wave

wave