Wave, n. [From Wave, v.; not the same word as OE. wawe, waghe, a wave, which is akin to E. wag to move. ����. See Wave, v. i.]
1. An advancing ridge or swell on the surface of a liquid, as of the sea, resulting from the oscillatory motion of the particles composing it when disturbed by any force their position of rest; an undulation.
The wave behind impels the wave before. Pope.
2. (Physics) A vibration propagated from particle to particle through a body or elastic medium, as in the transmission of sound; an assemblage of vibrating molecules in all phases of a vibration, with no phase repeated; a wave of vibration; an undulation. See Undulation.
3. Water; a body of water. “Deep drank Lord Marmion of the wave.” Sir W. Scott.
Build a ship to save thee from the flood,
I 'll furnish thee with fresh wave, bread, and wine. Chapman.
4. Unevenness; inequality of surface. Sir I. Newton.
5. A waving or undulating motion; a signal made with the hand, a flag, etc.
6. The undulating line or streak of luster on cloth watered, or calendered, or on damask steel.
7. Fig.: A swelling or excitement of thought, feeling, or energy; a tide; as, waves of enthusiasm.
Wave front(Physics), the surface of initial displacement of the particles in a medium, as a wave of vibration advances. — Wave length(Physics), the space, reckoned in the direction of propagation, occupied by a complete wave or undulation, as of light, sound, etc.; the distance from a point or phase in a wave to the nearest point at which the same phase occurs. — Wave line(Shipbuilding), a line of a vessel's hull, shaped in accordance with the wave-line system. — Wave-line system, Wave-line theory(Shipbuilding), a system or theory of designing the lines of a vessel, which takes into consideration the length and shape of a wave which travels at a certain speed. — Wave loaf, a loaf for a wave offering. Lev. viii. 27. — Wave moth(Zoöl.), any one of numerous species of small geometrid moths belonging to Acidalia and allied genera; — so called from the wavelike color markings on the wings. — Wave offering, an offering made in the Jewish services by waving the object, as a loaf of bread, toward the four cardinal points. Num. xviii. 11. — Wave of vibration(Physics), a wave which consists in, or is occasioned by, the production and transmission of a vibratory state from particle to particle through a body. — Wave surface. (a) (Physics) A surface of simultaneous and equal displacement of the particles composing a wave of vibration. (b) (Geom.) A mathematical surface of the fourth order which, upon certain hypotheses, is the locus of a wave surface of light in the interior of crystals. It is used in explaining the phenomena of double refraction. See under Refraction. — Wave theory. (Physics) See Undulatory theory, under Undulatory.