wave*/*/

[weɪv] noun [C] I

1) a line of water that rises up on the surface of a sea, lake, or river

The boat was smashed by a huge wave.[/ex]

Children swam and played in the waves.[/ex]

2) a movement that you make with your hand or with an object as a way of saying hello or goodbye to someone or as a signal to them

3) a sudden increase in a particular type of behaviour or activity

a frightening wave of drug-related killings[/ex]

a new wave of company bankruptcies[/ex]

4) a sudden strong emotion that affects a person or group

The invasion caused a wave of anti-American feeling.[/ex]

5) a large number of people moving or arriving somewhere at the same time

Waves of protesters began arriving at the stadium.[/ex]

6) the way in which sound, light, a radio signal etc travels

See:

long wave,

medium wave,

short wave

•

See:

new wave

II

verb

wave */*/[weɪv]

1) [I/T] to move your hand in order to say hello or goodbye

He smiled and waved when he saw me.[/ex]

Prince Charles waved to the crowd.[/ex]

We waved goodbye to them as the car drove off.[/ex]

2) [T] to move your hand in order to tell someone to move, to leave, or to stop annoying you

He waved me away when I offered to help.[/ex]

3) [T] to move something around in the air

People clapped and cheered and children waved flags.[/ex]

4) [I] to move smoothly and gently from side to side

The tall trees were waving in the wind.[/ex]

•

- wave sth aside