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  • Waves
    Waves
    noun
    the Women's Reserve of the U.S. Naval Reserve, the distinct force of women enlistees in the U.S. Navy, organized during World War II.
  • WAVES
    WAVES
    acronym
    Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service; the women's reserve of the US navy
Synonyms

Waves

American  
[weyvz] / weɪvz /
Or WAVES

noun

(used with a singular or plural verb)
  1. the Women's Reserve of the U.S. Naval Reserve, the distinct force of women enlistees in the U.S. Navy, organized during World War II.


WAVES British  
/ weɪvz /

acronym

  1. Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service; the women's reserve of the US navy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Waves

1942; W(omen) A(ccepted for) V(olunteer) E(mergency) S(ervice)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"This is exactly why we started Waves of Will - to make a new brainwave interface."

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

In the 1920s and 1930s, the view informed three of her novels - Jacob's Room, The Waves and To the Lighthouse.

From BBC • Feb. 14, 2026

Waves in any climate can reduce transit speed and lead to accidents.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 30, 2025

After allowing Pepperdine to shoot 50% midway through the first half, the Bruins made baskets hard to come by over the final 10 minutes, the Waves shooting just 32.1% by halftime.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 8, 2025

Waves sloshed around her, splashing up her dark legs, soaking her shorts.

From "Ship Breaker" by Paolo Bacigalupi