WAVE | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Looking for the meaning of the word WAVE in English for both noun and verb forms from the Oxford Dictionary? Below, you can explore all possible meanings and definitions of WAVE with sentence examples. You can also use the “AUDIO PRONUNCIATION” track to check the correct pronunciation in British English.

Word: Wave

Speech Type: Verb

Etymology:

Old English wafian (verb), from the Germanic base of waver; the noun by alteration (influenced by the verb) of Middle English wawe ‘(sea) wave’

Audio Pronunciation:

Phonetic Spelling: weɪv

Dialects: British English

Definition:

move one's hand to and fro in greeting or as a signal

Short Definition:

move one's hand to and fro in greeting or as signal

Examples:

he waved to me from the train

Definition:

move to and fro with a swaying motion while remaining fixed to one point

Short Definition:

move to and fro with swaying motion while remaining fixed to one point

Examples:

the flag waved in the wind

Definition:

style (hair) so that it curls slightly

Short Definition:

style hair so that it curls slightly

Examples:

her hair had been carefully waved for the evening

Word: Wave

Speech Type: Noun

Audio Pronunciation:

Phonetic Spelling: weɪv

Dialects: British English

Definition:

a long body of water curling into an arched form and breaking on the shore

Short Definition:

long body of water curling into arched form

Examples:

he was swept out to sea by a freak wave

Definition:

a sudden occurrence of or increase in a phenomenon, feeling, or emotion

Short Definition:

sudden occurrence of or increase in phenomenon or emotion

Examples:

its remarkable how one small gesture can create a wave of kindness
fear came over me in waves

Definition:

a gesture or signal made by moving one's hand to and fro

Short Definition:

gesture or signal made by moving one's hand to and fro

Examples:

he gave a little wave and walked off

Definition:

a slightly curling lock of hair

Short Definition:

slightly curling lock of hair

Examples:

his hair was drying in unruly waves

Definition:

a periodic disturbance of the particles of a substance which may be propagated without net movement of the particles, such as in the passage of undulating motion, heat, or sound.

Short Definition:

periodic disturbance of particles of substance which may be propagated without net movement of particles