- wave
- wave1 [ weıv ] noun count ***▸ 1 raised water▸ 2 appearance/increase▸ 3 sudden strong emotion▸ 4 movement of hand, etc.▸ 5 of sound/radio etc.▸ 6 slight curl in hair▸ + PHRASES1. ) 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.a ) a shape that has a series of curves, or a single one of these curvesb ) the waves plural LITERARY the sea2. ) 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 crime and violencea ) 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.b ) a period of activity that is part of a series of similar periods:Much of Dresden was destroyed by wave after wave of bombing.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.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.a ) 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.b ) AMERICAN a movement that a crowd of people makes when they stand up in rows and each row raises their arms as they stand5. ) the way in which sound, light, a radio signal, etc. travels=> LONG WAVE, MEDIUM WAVE, SHORT WAVE6. ) a slight curl in a person's hairmake waves INFORMALto cause problems by making suggestions or criticisms:The independent candidates are making waves in the presidential debate.the wave of the future AMERICANsomething that will be very popular or fashionable in the future=> NEW WAVEwavewave 2 [ weıv ] verb **1. ) intransitive or 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 media and members of the public.wave at: She waved at her parents as the bus pulled away.wave goodbye (to someone): Wave goodbye to Grandma, Charlie.a ) 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.2. ) intransitive to move smoothly and gently from side to side:All around me I saw tall trees waving in the wind.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.a ) transitive to move something around in the air3. ) intransitive if hair waves, it forms slight curlswave something goodbye/wave goodbye to something INFORMALused for saying that someone will lose something or not be able to have it:If John loses his job, we can wave our house goodbye.,wave a`side phrasal verb transitiveto ignore someone's ideas, feelings, or opinions because you do not think they are important:Whenever I mention finances, he just waves aside my concerns.,wave `down phrasal verb transitiveto make a vehicle stop by waving your arm or hand at the driver,wave `off phrasal verb transitivewave someone off to say goodbye to someone by waving as they leave:She stood on the porch and waved her children off to school.
Usage of the words and phrases in modern English. 2013.