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| wave [ wayv ] |
noun (plural waves) |
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1. large ripple on liquid or ocean: a raised ridge-shaped formation moving across the surface of a liquid, especially the ocean, or an ocean wave curling over and falling as it reaches the shore
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2. undulating motion: a movement through, or over the surface of or along the edge of something that is similar in its appearance or effects to a wave
  The wind made waves across the field of grain.
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3. act of waving hand: an instance of moving the hand or arm as a signal or greeting
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4. line curving in alternating directions: a line, shape, surface, or pattern that curves in one direction and then another, especially one with repeated curves
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5. surge in activity: a sudden occurrence of or increase in a particular phenomenon or activity
a crime wave
a wave of strikes
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6. burst of feeling: a sudden and often overwhelming experience of a particular feeling
a wave of sorrow
Relief came over me in waves.
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7. incoming group: a large number or body of people moving together or doing the same thing at the same time
a wave of immigrants
attack in waves
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8. loose curve in hair: a soft, usually large curve or ripple in the hair where the lie of the hair changes direction, either naturally or after setting
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9. rippled pattern: a rippled pattern in material such as silk
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10. physics oscillation of energy: an oscillation that travels through a medium by transferring energy from one particle or point to another without causing any permanent displacement of the medium
sound waves
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11. leisure continuous rippling movement by sports crowd: the rippling effect produced by rows of spectators at a sporting event standing up, raising their arms, and then sitting down again
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plural noun waves |
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| Definition: |
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sea: the waves of the ocean, or the ocean itself
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verb (past and past participle waved, present participle wav·ing, 3rd person present singular waves) |
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| Definition: |
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1. transitive and intransitive verb move hand repeatedly as signal: to move the hand or arm from side to side or up and down as a greeting, farewell, or signal
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2. transitive and intransitive verb move something repeatedly in air: to move from side to side or up and down, or cause something such as a flag to move from side to side or up and down
The flag waved in the wind.
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3. transitive verb direct somebody or something by waving: to direct somebody or something by waving a hand, arm, or object
The police waved the traffic around the procession.
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4. transitive and intransitive verb make into or be in undulations: to make something into swells, ridges, or swirls, or be in the form of swells, ridges, or swirls
a field of grain waving in the wind
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5. intransitive verb move in waves: to move in a series of swells
(
refers to water
)
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6. transitive and intransitive verb be or make slightly curled: to be slightly curled, or make hair slightly curled
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7. transitive verb give material rippled pattern: to create a rippled pattern in a fabric such as silk
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| [ Old English wafian< Germanic, "move back and forth"] |
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catch a wave to find or launch yourself onto a wave of the type that can be enjoyably ridden on a surfboard (slang)
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make waves to cause a disturbance or trouble, e.g. by suggesting or introducing changes or making criticisms
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