n.
Function: noun
Date: 1526
1 a : a moving ridge or swell on the surface of a liquid (as of the sea) b : open water
2 a : a shape or outline having successive curves b : a waviness of the hair c : an undulating line or streak or a pattern formed by such lines
3 : something that swells and dies away: as a : a surge of sensation or emotion <a wave of anger swept over her> b : a movement sweeping large numbers in a common direction < wave s of protest> c : a peak or climax of activity <a wave of buying>
4 : a sweep of hand or arm or of some object held in the hand used as a signal or greeting
5 : a rolling or undulatory movement or one of a series of such movements passing along a surface or through the air
6 : a movement like that of an ocean wave: as a : a surging movement of a group <a big new wave of women politicians> b : one of a succession of influxes of people migrating into a region c (1) : a moving group of animals of one kind (2) : a sudden rapid increase in a population d : a line of attacking or advancing troops or airplanes e : a display of people in a large crowd (as at a sports event) successively rising, lifting their arms overhead, and quickly sitting so as to form a swell moving through the crowd
7 a : a disturbance or variation that transfers energy progressively from point to point in a medium and that may take the form of an elastic deformation or of a variation of pressure, electric or magnetic intensity, electric potential, or temperature b : one complete cycle of such a disturbance
8 : a marked change in temperature : a period of hot or cold weather
9 : an undulating or jagged line constituting a graphic representation of an action
– wave · less \ ' w ā v-l ə s \ adjective
– wave · less · ly adverb
– wave · like \ - ˌ l ī k \ adjective