wave

1 /weIv/ noun

1 ON THE SEA (C) a line of raised water that moves across the surface of the sea: Dee watched the waves breaking on the rocks.

2 OF YOUR HAND (countable usually singular) a movement of your hand or arm from side to side

3 OF LIGHT/SOUND (C) the form in which some types of energy such as light and sound move: radio waves

—see also: long wave, medium wave, short wave

4 SUDDEN INCREASE (C)

a) a sudden increase in a particular type of behaviour or activity, especially an unpleasant one

(+ of): a new wave of terrorist bombings | crime wave (=a sudden increase in crime)

b) a sudden increase in the number of people or things arriving at the same time

(+ of): a new wave of immigrants

c) a group of soldiers, aircraft etc that attack together

(+ of): The next wave of troops went over the ridge.

d) a sudden strong feeling that spreads from one person to another

(+ of): A wave of panic swept through the crowd.

5 in waves if something happens in waves, a short period of activity is followed by a pause: The pain swept over him in waves.

6 OF HAIR (C) a part of your hair that has an even curved shape

7 make waves informal to cause problems: With so many jobs being cut, Parker didn't want to make waves.

8 the waves literary the ocean

2 verb

1 HAND (I, T) to move your hand or arm from side to side in order to greet someone or attract their attention: Toyah waved her hand regally. | wave to/at sb: Tommy waved to us as he came across the field. | wave sth at sb: Lee waved his fist at me angrily. | wave sth around/about BrE: Stop waving your arms about | wave sb goodbye/wave goodbye to sb (=to say goodbye to someone by waving to them): Wave bye-bye to Granny.

2 SIGNAL (transitive always + adv/prep) to show someone where to go by waving your hand in that direction: wave sb through/on/away: A guard waved me away from the fence.

3 MAKE STH MOVE (T) to hold something and move it from side to side: The magician waved his wand and the door opened. | wave sth under/about/at etc: Trudie waved a $50 bill under his nose.

4 MOVE SMOOTHLY (I) to move smoothly up and down, or from side to side: flags waving in the wind

5 wave sth goodbye informal to be forced to accept that something you want will not happen: A 3-0 defeat means United have waved their promotion chances goodbye.

6 HAIR (I, T) if hair waves or is waved, it grows in loose curls

wave sth aside phrasal verb (T) to refuse to accept someone's opinion or idea because you do not think it is important: Nancy waved aside our objections. wave sb/sth down phrasal verb (T) to signal to the driver of a car to stop by waving your arm at them wave sb off phrasal verb (T) to wave goodbye to someone as they leave