1 [count] : an area of moving water that is raised above the main surface of an ocean, a lake, etc.
▪ The waves crashed onto the rocks. ▪ ocean waves ▪ The motion of the waves (under the boat) made us seasick. — see also tidal wave 2 [count] : something that has the shape or movement of a wave
▪ She has a wave in her hair. ▪ amber waves of grain ▪ Waves of warm air washed over us. 3 [count] : a usually repeated movement of your hand or of something held in your hand especially as a signal or greeting
▪ He gave me a wave. [=he waved to/at me] ▪ We got a wave from the Queen. ▪ The rabbit disappeared with a wave of the magician's wand. ▪ a kiss and a wave goodbye [=a wave that you use to say goodbye] 4 [count] a : a period of time in which a particular type of activity is being done commonly or repeatedly
▪ The tax cut triggered a wave of spending. ▪ a crime wave — see also heat wave
b : a large number of people or things that do something together, are seen together, etc.
▪ a new wave of immigrants [=a large number of immigrants arriving at the same time] ▪ The attacks came in waves. 5 [count] a : a strong feeling that affects someone suddenly
▪ A wave of fatigue swept over me. [=I suddenly became very tired] ▪ He was overcome by waves of anger/fear.
b : a strong feeling or attitude that is shared by many people at the same time
▪ The new school has triggered a wave of optimism [=has made many people feel optimistic] about the public school system. ▪ a wave of nostalgia ▪ At the age of 80, she's riding a/the wave of renewed interest in her work. [=she's experiencing a time when many people are interested in her work again] ▪ a time when the mayor was still riding a wave of public approval 6 [count] technical : an amount of energy (such as light) that moves in a shape resembling a wave from one point to another point
▪ light waves — see also airwaves, radio wave, shock wave, shortwave, sound wave 7 the wave : a movement made by a group of people especially in a stadium or arena in which individual people stand up and then sit down again according to where they are sitting in order to create the appearance of an ocean wave
▪ The crowd did the wave between innings. —called also (Brit) the Mexican wave