wave /wāv/

1. A ridge on the surface of a liquid, esp of the sea
2. A surge, consisting of vibrating particles of liquid, moving across the surface of a body of liquid such as the sea (transverse wave), the vibrations of the individual particles being at right angles to the line of advance
3. A unit disturbance in any travelling system of vibrating particles such as a light wave (transverse wave) or a sound wave (longitudinal wave, the vibrations of the particles being in the direction of advance)
4. An undulating or vibratory motion (eg as a signal), or sound
5. The sea, or other body of water (poetic)
6. Curved inequality of surface
7. A line or streak like a wave
8. An undulation
9. An undulating succession of curves in hair, or one of these
10. A movement of the raised hand expressing greeting, farewell, etc
11. A swell or increase, normally followed by a subsidence or decline
12. Any movement suggestive of a surge, esp one of a series or progression

1. To move like a wave
2. To move backwards and forwards
3. To float or hover (obsolete)
4. To flutter
5. To make a signal in this way
6. To move the raised hand in greeting, farewell, etc or as a signal or sign
7. To undulate
8. (of hair) to have a wave or waves, be full of waves
9. To waver, vacillate (obsolete)

1. To move backwards and forwards
2. To brandish
3. To flutter
4. To waft or beckon
5. To express by a wave
6. To direct, signal an instruction to, by a wave
7. To raise into inequalities of surface
8. To give an undulating appearance to (hair)

waved adjective

1. Showing a wavelike form or outline
2. Undulating
3. (of hair) artificially made to undulate
4. Indented (heraldry)
5. Having on the margin a succession of curved segments or incisions

waveˈless adjective

waveˈlet noun

A little wave

waveˈlike adjective

wāˈving noun and adjective

waveˈband noun (radio)

A range of wavelengths occupied by transmission of a particular type

wave energy or wave power noun

Energy or power derived, by some means of conversion, from the movement of sea waves

wave equation noun (physics)

A differential equation that describes the passage of harmonic waves through a medium

wave farm noun

A concentration at sea of machines that generate power from the movement of waves

waveˈform or waveˈshape noun (physics)

A graph showing variation of amplitude of electrical signal, or other wave, against time

waveˈfront noun (physics)

In a propagating vibratory disturbance, the continuous locus of points which are in the same phase of vibration

wave function noun (physics)

A mathematical equation representing the space and time variations in amplitude for a wave system

waveˈguide noun (electronics)

A hollow metal conductor, usu rectangular, within which very high-frequency energy can be transmitted efficiently

waveˈlength noun

1. The distance between two successive similar points on an alternating wave, eg between successive maxima or between successive minima
2. The distance, measured radially from the source, between two successive points in free space at which an electromagnetic wave has the same phase
3. Such a distance serving to identify radio waves from a particular transmitter (radio)

wave mechanics singular noun (physics)

The part of quantum mechanics dealing with the wave aspect of the behaviour of radiations

waveˈmeter noun

An instrument for measuring wavelengths, directly or indirectly

wave motion noun

1. Undulatory movement
2. Motion in waves, or according to the same laws

wave number noun (physics)

In an electromagnetic wave, the reciprocal of the wavelength, ie the number of waves in unit distance

wave offering noun

An ancient Jewish custom of moving the hands in succession towards the four points of the compass in presenting certain offerings (cf heave-offering under heave)

wave-particle duality noun

The circumstance that light and other electromagnetic radiation behave like a wave motion when being propagated and like particles when interacting with matter

wave power see wave energy above.

waveshape see waveform above.

waveˈtable noun

A collection of digitized samples of recorded sound stored as sound waves

wave theory noun (physics)

The theory, no longer widely held, that light or other radiation is transmitted only in the form of waves

wave train noun

A group of similar waves, of limited duration, produced by a single disturbance

make waves

To create a disturbance, make trouble

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