wave
wave Lexical Profile
wave Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A long body of water curling into an arched form and breaking on the shore, or a ridge of water moving across the surface of a liquid.
"The surfers paddled out early to catch the morning waves."
A propagating dynamic disturbance or oscillation that transfers energy from point to point in a medium, such as light or sound.
"Sound travels through the air as a mechanical wave."
A sudden occurrence of or increase in a specified phenomenon, feeling, or behavior.
"A sudden wave of nostalgia washed over him as he looked at the old photographs."
• verb
To move one's hand to and fro in greeting, farewell, or as a signal.
"She smiled and waved at her friends from across the bustling street."
To move freely back and forth with a swaying or fluttering motion, typically in the wind.
"The colorful flags waved gently in the afternoon breeze."
To style hair so that it falls in gentle curls or undulations.
"The stylist meticulously waved her hair for the vintage photoshoot."
Word Nuance & Usage
Often confused with the homophone 'waive', which means to voluntarily relinquish a right, claim, or privilege.
• Rhymes for wave
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old English 'wafian' (to wave, fluctuate, waver), originating from the Proto-Germanic base 'wab-'. The noun form referring to a swell of water emerged in the 16th century, replacing the older English word 'ything'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.