2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] If you describe food or drink as watery , you dislike it because it contains too much water, or has no flavour. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ …watery stew.
3 ADJ Something that is watery contains, resembles, or consists of water. □ Emma's eyes went red and watery.
watt /wɒ t/ (watts ) N‑COUNT A watt is a unit of measurement of electrical power. □ Use a 3 amp fuse for equipment up to 720 watts. □ …a 100-watt lightbulb.
watt|age /wɒ t I dʒ/ N‑UNCOUNT The wattage of a piece of electrical equipment is the amount of electrical power which it produces or uses, expressed in watts.
wat|tle /wɒ t ə l/ N‑UNCOUNT Wattle is a framework made by weaving thin sticks through thick sticks which is used for making fences and walls. [BRIT ] □ …the native huts of mud and wattle. □ …wattle fencing.
wave ◆◆◇ /we I v/ (waves , waving , waved )
1 VERB If you wave or wave your hand, you move your hand from side to side in the air, usually in order to say hello or goodbye to someone. □ [V + to/at ] He waved at the waiter, who rushed to the table. □ [V ] He grinned, waved, and said, 'Hi!'. □ [V n] Elaine turned and waved her hand lazily and left. [Also V n prep] ● N‑COUNT Wave is also a noun. □ [+ of ] Steve stopped him with a wave of the hand. □ Paddy spotted Mary Ann and gave her a cheery wave.
2 VERB If you wave someone away or wave them on, you make a movement with your hand to indicate that they should move in a particular direction. □ [V n adv/prep] Leshka waved him away with a show of irritation.
3 VERB If you wave something, you hold it up and move it rapidly from side to side. □ [V n] Hospital staff were outside to welcome him, waving flags and applauding. □ [V n adv/prep] She was apt to raise her voice and wave her hands about. ● -waving COMB □ Hundreds of banner-waving demonstrators took to the streets. □ …a flag-waving crowd.
4 VERB If something waves , it moves gently from side to side or up and down. □ [V ] …grass and flowers waving in the wind.
5 N‑COUNT A wave is a raised mass of water on the surface of water, especially the sea, which is caused by the wind or by tides making the surface of the water rise and fall. □ …the sound of the waves breaking on the shore.
6 N‑COUNT If someone's hair has waves , it curves slightly instead of being straight.
7 N‑COUNT A wave is a sudden increase in heat or energy that spreads out from an earthquake or explosion. □ [+ of ] The shock waves of the earthquake were felt in Teheran.
8 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Waves are the form in which things such as sound, light, and radio signals travel. □ Sound waves, light waves, and radio waves have a certain frequency.
9 N‑COUNT If you refer to a wave of a particular feeling, you mean that it increases quickly and becomes very intense, and then often decreases again. □ [+ of ] She felt a wave of panic, but forced herself to leave the room calmly.
10 N‑COUNT A wave is a sudden increase in a particular activity or type of behaviour, especially an undesirable or unpleasant one. □ [+ of ] …the current wave of violence. □ …an even newer crime wave.
11 → see also long wave , medium wave , Mexican wave , new wave , short-wave , tidal wave
wave|band /we I vbænd/ (wavebands ) N‑COUNT A waveband is a group of radio waves of similar length which are used for particular types of radio communication.
wave|length /we I vleŋθ/ (wavelengths )
1 N‑COUNT A wavelength is the distance between a part of a wave of energy such as light or sound and the next similar part. □ [+ of ] Sunlight consists of different wavelengths of radiation.
2 N‑COUNT A wavelength is the size of radio wave which a particular radio station uses to broadcast its programmes. □ [+ of ] She found the wavelength of their broadcasts, and left the radio tuned to their station.
3 PHRASE If two people are on the same wavelength , they find it easy to understand each other and they tend to agree, because they share similar interests or opinions. □ It's great to work with people who are on the same wavelength.
wave|let /we I vlət/ (wavelets ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Wavelets are small waves on the surface of a sea or lake. [LITERARY ]
wa|ver /we I və r / (wavers , wavering , wavered )
1 VERB If you waver , you cannot decide about something or you consider changing your mind about something. □ [V ] Some military commanders wavered over whether to support the coup. □ [V ] Coleman has never wavered in his claim that he is innocent.
2 VERB If something wavers , it shakes with very slight movements or changes. □ [V ] The shadows of the dancers wavered continually.
wavy /we I vi/ (wavier , waviest )
1 ADJ Wavy hair is not straight or curly, but curves slightly. □ She had short, wavy brown hair.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A wavy line has a series of regular curves along it. □ The boxes were decorated with a wavy gold line.
wax /wæ ks/ (waxes , waxing , waxed )
1 N‑VAR Wax is a solid, slightly shiny substance made of fat or oil which is used to make candles and polish. It melts when it is heated. □ There were coloured candles which had spread pools of wax on the furniture. □ She loved the scent in the house of wax polish.