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.
Waved (?), a. 1. Exhibiting a wavelike form or outline; undulating;
intended; wavy; as, waved edge.
2. Having a wavelike appearance; marked with wavelike lines of color;
as, waved, or watered, silk.
3. (Her.) Having undulations like waves; — said of one of the lines in
heraldry which serve as outlines to the ordinaries, etc.
Wave"less (?), a. Free from waves; undisturbed; not agitated; as, the
waveless sea.
Wave"let (?), n. A little wave; a ripple.
Wa"vel*lite (?), n. [After Dr. Wm. Wavel, the discoverer.] (Min.) A
hydrous phosphate of alumina, occurring usually in hemispherical
radiated forms varying in color from white to yellow, green, or black.
Wa"ver (?), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Wavered (?); p. pr. & vb. n. Wavering.]
[OE. waveren, from AS. wæfre wavering, restless. See Wave, v. i.]
1. To play or move to and fro; to move one way and the other; hence, to
totter; to reel; to swing; to flutter.
With banners and pennons wavering with the wind.
Ld. Berners.
Thou wouldst waver on one of these trees as a terror to all evil
speakers against dignities.
Sir W. Scott.
2. To be unsettled in opinion; to vacillate; to be undetermined; to
fluctuate; as, to water in judgment.
Let us hold fast . . . without wavering.
Heb. x. 23.
In feeble hearts, propense enough before To waver, or fall off and join
with idols.
Milton.
Syn. — To reel; totter; vacillate. See Fluctuate.
Wa"ver, n. [From Wave, or Waver, v.] A sapling left standing in a
fallen wood. [Prov. Eng.] Halliwell.
Wa"ver*er (?), n. One who wavers; one who is unsettled in doctrine,
faith, opinion, or the like. Shak.
Wa"ver*ing*ly, adv. In a wavering manner.
Wa"ver*ing*ness, n. The quality or state of wavering.
Wave"son (?), n. [From Wave; cf. Jetsam.] (O. Eng. Law) Goods which,
after shipwreck, appear floating on the waves, or sea.
Wave"-worn` (?), a. Worn by the waves.
The shore that o'er his wave-worn basis bowed.
Shak.