wave

[[t]weɪv[/t]]

n. v. waved, wav•ing

1) oce a disturbance on the surface of a liquid body, as the sea or a lake, in the form of a moving ridge or swell

2) any surging or progressing movement or part resembling a wave of the sea

3) a swell, surge, or rush:

a wave of disgust[/ex]

4) a widespread attitude or tendency, etc.:

a wave of anti-intellectualism[/ex]

5) a mass movement:

a wave of settlers[/ex]

6) an outward curve in a surface or line; undulation

7) an act or instance of waving

8) a waviness of the hair

9) a period of unusually hot or cold weather

10) phs Physics. a progressive disturbance propagated from point to point in a medium or space without progress or advance by the points themselves, as in the transmission of sound or light

11) to move freely and gently back and forth or up and down, as by the action of air currents, sea swells, etc.:

flags waving in the wind[/ex]

12) to curve alternately in opposite directions; have an undulating form

13) to bend or sway up and down or to and fro

14) to be moved, esp. alternately in opposite directions:

a handkerchief waving in the distance[/ex]

15) to signal, esp. in greeting, by raising the hand and moving the fingers up and down

16) to cause to flutter or have a waving motion in

17) to cause to bend or sway up and down or to and fro

18) to cause to curve up and down or in and out

19) to give a wavy appearance or pattern to, as silk

20) to impart a wave to (the hair)

21) to greet or signal someone by raising and moving (the hand), esp. alternately in opposite directions

22) to direct by a waving movement:

to wave traffic around an obstacle[/ex]

23) to signify or express by a waving movement

•

- make waves

Etymology: 1325–75; ME; OE wafian to wave the hands