Collocations for wave - noun
1. on water
ADJECTIVE
big,
enormous,
giant,
great,
huge,
mountainous
small, tiny
10-foot, 40-foot, etc.
gentle
the gentle waves of the bay
small, tiny
10-foot, 40-foot, etc.
gentle
the gentle waves of the bay
white-capped
incoming, oncoming
He swam headlong into the oncoming wave.
incoming, oncoming
He swam headlong into the oncoming wave.
breaking
crashing
rolling
lapping
ocean
the roar of ocean waves
crashing
rolling
lapping
ocean
the roar of ocean waves
tidal,
tsunami
Several villages have been destroyed by a huge tidal wave.
Several villages have been destroyed by a huge tidal wave.
rogue
These boats aren't strong enough to withstand rogue waves.
These boats aren't strong enough to withstand rogue waves.
VERB + wave
ride
Surfers flocked to the beach to ride the waves.
Surfers flocked to the beach to ride the waves.
surf
She loved surfing the giant waves of the sea.
She loved surfing the giant waves of the sea.
catch
(often figurative)
How do we catch the next great wave of innovation?
How do we catch the next great wave of innovation?
wave + VERB
rise
break, fall, roll, roll in
We watched the waves breaking on the shore.
break, fall, roll, roll in
We watched the waves breaking on the shore.
hit sth,
pound sth,
strike sth
The waves hit the rocks with huge energy.
The waves hit the rocks with huge energy.
lap
the gentle sound of waves lapping the sand
the gentle sound of waves lapping the sand
splash
A huge wave splashed over him.
A huge wave splashed over him.
crash,
roar,
smash
I could hear the waves crash against the rocks.
I could hear the waves crash against the rocks.
PREPOSITION
in the waves
children playing in the waves
children playing in the waves
on the waves
There were seagulls bobbing on the waves.
There were seagulls bobbing on the waves.
PHRASES
the crash of the waves,
the crashing of the waves,
the lap of the waves,
the lapping of the waves
All you could hear was the lapping of the waves.
All you could hear was the lapping of the waves.
the crest of a wave
(often figurative)
She is on the crest of a wave at the moment following her Olympic success.
She is on the crest of a wave at the moment following her Olympic success.
2. movement of energy
ADJECTIVE
acoustic,
electromagnetic,
gravitational,
gravity,
light,
radio,
seismic,
shock,
sound,
ultrasonic
wave + VERB
travel
bounce off sth, travel
Sound waves bounce off objects in their path.
bounce off sth, travel
Sound waves bounce off objects in their path.
3. increase/spread
ADJECTIVE
big,
enormous,
great,
huge,
massive
fresh, new, next, recent
current
the current wave of business scandals
fresh, new, next, recent
current
the current wave of business scandals
successive
successive waves of immigrants
successive waves of immigrants
first,
second,
etc.
the first wave of immigration in the 1950s
the first wave of immigration in the 1950s
crime
VERB + wave
send
The news sent a wave of relief through the crowd.
The news sent a wave of relief through the crowd.
cause,
create,
generate,
produce,
prompt,
spark,
trigger
This tendency has generated a new wave of company mergers.
This tendency has generated a new wave of company mergers.
launch,
unleash
The attack unleashed a wave of terror in the city.
The attack unleashed a wave of terror in the city.
feel
I feel a wave of panic flow through me.
I feel a wave of panic flow through me.
wave + VERB
sweep sth,
sweep over sth,
wash over sb/sth,
wash through sb/sth
With the fall of the Bastille in 1789, a wave of euphoria swept Europe.
A wave of relief washed over him as he saw that the children were safe.
With the fall of the Bastille in 1789, a wave of euphoria swept Europe.
A wave of relief washed over him as he saw that the children were safe.
PREPOSITION
wave of
a big wave of refugees
a big wave of refugees
on a wave
swept along on a wave of critical acclaim
swept along on a wave of critical acclaim
4. hand movement
ADJECTIVE
quick
little, slight (esp. AmE)
cheery, friendly
farewell, goodbye (esp. AmE), parting
casual
dismissive
She gave a dismissive wave of her hand.
little, slight (esp. AmE)
cheery, friendly
farewell, goodbye (esp. AmE), parting
casual
dismissive
She gave a dismissive wave of her hand.
half-hearted
PREPOSITION
with a wave
wave of
He dismissed her thanks with a quick wave of the hand.
wave of
He dismissed her thanks with a quick wave of the hand.