n.

1. one of a series of ridges that moves across the surface of a liquid (especially across a large body of water);
   moving ridge
2. a movement like that of a sudden occurrence or increase in a specified phenomenon
   
   • a wave of settlers
   • troops advancing in waves
3. (physics) a movement up and down or back and forth;
   undulation
4. something that rises rapidly
   
   • a wave of emotion swept over him
   • there was a sudden wave of buying before the market closed
   • a wave of conservatism in the country led by the hard right
5. the act of signaling by a movement of the hand;
   waving, wafture
6. a hairdo that creates undulations in the hair
7. an undulating curve;
   undulation
8. a persistent and widespread unusual weather condition (especially of unusual temperatures)
   
   • a heat wave
9. a member of the women's reserve of the United States Navy; originally organized during World War II but now no longer a separate branch;
   Wave

v.

1. signal with the hands or nod;
   beckon
   
   • She waved to her friends
   • He waved his hand hospitably
2. move or swing back and forth;
   brandish, flourish
   
   • She waved her gun
3. move in a wavy pattern or with a rising and falling motion;
   roll, undulate, flap
   
   • The curtains undulated
   • the waves rolled towards the beach
4. twist or roll into coils or ringlets;
   curl
   
   • curl my hair, please
5. set waves in
   
   • she asked the hairdresser to wave her hair