Jump to:

• water wave
  water wave

  noun

  a wave on the surface of a body of water.
• water-wave
  water-wave

  verb (used with object)

  to set (hair) in a water wave.

water wave

¹ American  

noun

1. a wave on the surface of a body of water.

2. a wave combed or pressed into wet hair and then dried.

---

water-wave ² American  

[waw-ter-weyv, wot-er-] / ˈwɔ tərˌweɪv, ˈwɒt ər- /

verb (used with object)

water-waved, water-waving

1. to set (hair) in a water wave.

---

Etymology

Origin of water wave¹

First recorded in 1550–60

Origin of water-wave²

An Americanism dating back to 1880–85

Example Sentences

Voilà, your water wave has tunneled through a wall!

From Scientific American • Oct. 12, 2023

He’s not exactly sure what combination of water, wave force or sand caused the impact that hurt him.

From Washington Times • May 12, 2017

Whether it is the up-and-down motion of a water wave or the changing electric and magnetic fields in a wave of light, the pattern of disturbance repeats in a cyclical way.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

That uncertainty is directly connected to the wave-like character of matter and light: if you have a water wave traveling across the ocean, what is the precise position of the wave?

From Scientific American • Jun. 7, 2011

As they passed over it, Minli saw the smooth water wave with gentle ripples and heard what sounded like faint drumming.

From "Where the Mountain Meets the Moon" by Grace Lin