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wave

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verb British English pronunciation: wave /weɪv/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theywave
he/she/itwaves
present participlewaving
past tensewaved
past participlewaved
  1. 1
    [intransitive/transitive] to move your hand to say hello or goodbye or as a signal

    He smiled and waved when he saw me.

    ‘Aren’t they beautiful?’ Don said, waving his hand at the mountains.

    wave to:

    Prince Charles waved to the crowd.

    wave at:

    She waved at her parents as the bus pulled away.

    wave goodbye (to someone):

    Wave goodbye to Grandma, Charlie.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  waveThesaurus entry for this meaning of wave
    1. a.
      [transitive] to move your hand in order to tell someone to move, leave, or stop annoying you
      wave someone away/off/on:

      He waved me away when I offered to help.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  waveThesaurus entry for this meaning of wave
  2. 2
    [intransitive] to move smoothly and gently from side to side

    All around me I saw tall trees waving in the wind.

    Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  waveThesaurus entry for this meaning of wave
    1. a.
      [transitive] to move something around in the air
      wave something around:

      A man walked into the shop, waving a gun around.

      wave something at someone:

      He waved his finger at Lucy in a threatening manner.

      Thesaurus entry for this meaning of  waveThesaurus entry for this meaning of wave

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This is the British English definition of wave. View American English definition of wave.

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