(wāv) v. waved, wav·ing v.i.
1. To move freely back and forth or up and down, as a flag in the wind; undulate or fluctuate.
2. To be moved back and forth or up and down as a signal; also, to make a signal by moving something thus.
3. To have an undulating shape or form; be sinuous: Her hair waves.
—v.t.
4. To cause to move back and forth or up and down: to wave a banner.
5. To form with an undulating surface, edge, or outline.
6. To give a wavy appearance to; water, as silk.
7. To form into waves or undulations: to wave one's hair.
8. To signal by waving something: He waved me aside.
9. To express by waving something: to wave farewell. See synonyms under FLAUNT, SHAKE.
—noun
1. A ridge or undulation moving on the surface of a liquid, the particles composing it having an oscillatory motion usually in the form of closed or nearly closed curves in a plane at right angles to the direction of movement of the ridge itself.
2. Physics One of the complete vibratory impulses set up by a disturbance propagated through the particles of a body or elastic medium, as a rope, air, or water. Each impulse, as in the transmission of light or sound, has characteristics of length, frequency, duration, etc., determined by the nature of the disturbance in the medium involved.
3. One of the rising curves on an undulatory edge or surface; one of a series of curves: amber waves of grain.
4. Something that comes, like a wave, with great volume or power; a flood; a period of marked activity or excitement: a wave of enthusiasm.
5. A wavelike stripe or undulation impressed on a surface, as on watered silk; also, a wavelike tress or curl of hair.
6. Poetic Any body of water; the sea.
7. The act of waving; a sweeping or undulating motion, as with the hand or a flag.
8. One of a series, as of groups or events, occurring or moving with wavelike fluctuations: He went ashore with the first wave of Marines.
9. A progressive change in temperature or in barometrical condition passing over a large area: a heat wave. ♦ Homophone: waive. [OE wafian]
—wav′er noun Synonyms (noun): billow, breaker, ripple, surge, swell, undulation, vibration.

(wāv) noun
A member of the WAVES. [Back formation from WAVES (taken as a pl.)]