intransitive verb waved, waving wav′·ing

1. to move up and down or back and forth in a curving or undulating motion; swing, sway, or flutter to and fro: said of flexible things free at one end flags waving in the breeze
2. to signal by moving a hand, arm, light, etc. to and fro
3. to have the form of a series of curves or undulations hair that waves naturally

Etymology: ME waven < OE wafian, akin to Ger waben, to fluctuate < IE *webh-, to move to and fro, prob. identical with *webh-, to weave

transitive verb

1. to cause to wave, undulate, or sway to and fro
2. to swing or brandish (a weapon)
3. 1. to move or swing (something) as a signal; motion with (the hand, arms, etc.)
   2. to signal (something) by doing this to wave farewell
   3. to signal or signify something to (someone) by doing this he waved us on
4. to give an undulating form to; make sinuous to wave one's hair

noun

1. a ridge or swell moving along the surface of a liquid or body of water as a result of disturbance, as by wind
2. 1. an undulation or series of undulations in or on a surface, such as that caused by wind over a field of grain
   2. a curve or series of curves or curls, as in the hair
   3. an appearance of undulation, by reflection of light, on watered fabric
3. a motion to and fro or up and down, such as that made by the hand in signaling
4. something like a wave in action or effect; specif.,
   1. an upsurge or rise, as to a crest, or a progressively swelling manifestation a crime wave, heat wave, wave of emotion, etc.
   2. a movement of people, etc., in groups or masses, which recedes or grows smaller before subsiding or being followed by another a wave of immigrants
5. Old Poet. water; esp., the sea or other body of water
6. Physics a periodic motion or disturbance consisting of a series of many oscillations that propagate through a medium or space, as in the propagation of sound or light: the medium does not travel outward from the source with the wave but only vibrates as it passes

Etymology: altered (based on the v.) < ME wawe, a wave