/weɪv ||; wev/noun[C] 1 a line of water moving across the surface of water, especially the sea, that is higher than the rest of the surface 浪，波浪（尤指海浪）: We watched the waves roll in and break on the shore. 我们看着巨浪涌过来，打在岸上。 ☞Look at tidal wave. 参看tidal wave。 ☞picture on page C8 见C8页插图
2 a sudden increase or spread of a feeling or type of behaviour （某种情绪或行为）突然增加: There has been a wave of sympathy for the refugees. 很多人对这些难民表示同情。a crime wave 罪案激增The pain came in waves. 疼痛一阵阵袭来。 ☞Look at heatwave. 参看heatwave。
3 a large number of people or things suddenly moving or appearing somewhere （人群或事物）突然朝某地移动或在某地出现；潮涌: There is normally a wave of tourists in August. 八月份通常有大批游客涌至。
4 a movement of sth, especially your hand, from side to side in the air 挥动（尤指挥手）: With a wave of his hand, he said goodbye and left. 他挥一挥手，说声再见就离开了。
5 the form that some types of energy such as sound, light, heat, etc take when they move 波（声、光、热等能量的运动形态）: sound waves 声波shock waves from the earthquake 地震的震波 ☞Look at long wave, medium wave and short wave. 参看long wave、medium wave及short wave。
6 a gentle curve in your hair 曲发 ☞Look at perm. 参看perm。
*wave²/weɪv ||; wev/verb1 [I,T] to move your hand from side to side in the air, usually to attract sb's attention or as you meet or leave sb （向某人）挥手（以吸引注意、打招呼或告别）: She waved to me as the train left the station. 火车离站时她向我挥手告别。I leant out of the window and waved goodbye to my friends. 我探出窗外，向朋友挥手告别。 ☞picture on page S19 见S19页插图
2 [T] wave sth (at sb);wave sth (about) to hold sth in the air and move it from side to side 摇动；挥动: The crowd waved flags as the President came out. 总统出来时，群众就挥动旗帜。She was talking excitedly and waving her arms about. 她激动地说话，不时手臂挥动。
3 [T] wave sb/sth away, on, through, etc to move your hand in a particular direction to show sb/sth which way to go 挥手示意（某人或某物）向某方向移动: There was a policeman in the middle of the road, waving us on. 路当中有个警察挥手叫我们前进。
4 [I] to move gently up and down or from side to side 摆动；摇动: The branches of the trees waved gently in the breeze. 树枝在微风中轻轻摇动。
wave sth aside to decide not to pay attention to sb/sth because you think he/she/it is not important （对某人或某事物）置之不理
wave sb off to wave to sb who is leaving 向某人挥手告别