English - Hungarian

wave

gb/wˈeɪv/ us/wˈeɪv/
A1 English
~ 1700
integet, hullám, áradat, lenget
VERB A1
1
Usage pattern:
to wave [hand/arm] at [someone]
She waved at her friend across the street.
Integetett a barátjának az utca túloldalán.
He waved goodbye as the bus drove away.
Búcsút intett, amikor a busz elindult.
The lifeguard waved frantically to warn swimmers.
Learner examples
I wave to my teacher every morning.
Minden reggel integetek a tanáromnak.
She waves goodbye to her parents.
Integetve búcsúzik a szüleitől.
They wave when they see me.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'wave' with 'shake' when describing moving the hand; 'shake' usually means moving up and down or side to side quickly, often in greeting but also in other contexts.
Meaning
Move hand to greet or signal
Collocations
wave hello |wave goodbye |wave frantically |wave at someone
Synonyms
gesture (A general term for any body movement used to communicate, not just with the hand.)
Antonyms
ignore (Not acknowledging someone with any gesture or movement.)
Themes
daily life |communication |relationships
Definition

To move your hand from side to side to say hello, goodbye, or get someone's attention.

To raise and move the hand or arm back and forth to greet someone, say goodbye, or attract attention.

NOUN A1
2
Huge waves crashed against the rocks.
Hatalmas hullámok csapódtak a szikláknak.
Surfers waited for the perfect wave.
A szörfösök a tökéletes hullámra vártak.
The boat rose and fell with the waves.
Learner examples
The waves are big today.
Ma nagyok a hullámok.
A big wave hit the boat.
Egy nagy hullám nekicsapódott a hajónak.
We can hear the waves from our room.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'wave' with 'tide'; 'tide' refers to the regular rise and fall of sea level, not individual waves.
Meaning
Moving ridge of water
Collocations
big wave |ocean wave |surfing wave |tidal wave
Synonyms
breaker (Specifically refers to a wave that is breaking on the shore.)
Antonyms
calm water (Water without noticeable movement or waves.)
Themes
nature |travel
Definition

A raised line of water that moves across the sea or a lake.

A long body of water curling into an arched form and breaking on the shore or moving through the sea or lake.

NOUN B1
3
A new wave of protests swept through the city.
Új tiltakozási hullám söpört végig a városon.
There was a wave of excitement when the team scored.
Izgalomhullám futott végig a tömegen, amikor a csapat gólt szerzett.
The country faced a wave of new infections.
Learner examples
There is a wave of new cases.
Új esetek hulláma jelentkezik.
We saw a wave of happy faces.
Boldog arcok áradata fogadott minket.
The city had a wave of crime last year.
Common mistake:
Learners may use 'wave' literally here when it is figurative; context usually makes it clear this refers to events or emotions, not water.
Meaning
Sudden widespread increase
Collocations
crime wave |wave of protests |wave of relief |new wave
Synonyms
surge (A strong, often temporary increase in numbers, intensity, or emotion.)
Antonyms
decline (A decrease in amount, intensity, or frequency.)
Themes
news |society |core_vocabulary
Definition

A sudden and large number of things happening at the same time.

A sudden occurrence of many similar events, feelings, or actions happening together in a short period.

VERB A2
4
Usage pattern:
to wave [something] in/through [air]
The crowd waved flags during the parade.
A tömeg zászlókat lengetett a felvonulás alatt.
She waved her scarf to catch his attention.
Lengette a sálját, hogy magára vonja a figyelmét.
He waved a flashlight to signal for help.
Learner examples
They wave flags at the game.
Zászlókat lengetnek a meccsen.
She waves her hat in the air.
A levegőben lengeti a kalapját.
He waves a light to call for help.
Meaning
Move object in air repeatedly
Collocations
wave a flag |wave a handkerchief |wave a sign
Synonyms
brandish (Often implies showing something in an aggressive way.)
Antonyms
hold still (To keep an object motionless instead of moving it through the air.)
Themes
daily life |communication |core_vocabulary
Definition

To move something from side to side in the air so people can see it.

To move an object repeatedly back and forth through the air, often to signal or attract attention.

NOUN B2 TECHNICAL
5
Light travels in waves through space.
A fény hullámok formájában terjed a világűrben.
Sound waves move through air and other materials.
A hanghullámok a levegőben és más anyagokban terjednek.
Radio waves can pass through walls.
Learner examples
Light waves come from the sun.
A fényhullámok a Napból érkeznek.
Sound waves travel in air.
A hanghullámok a levegőben terjednek.
We use radio waves for music.
Meaning
Oscillation transferring energy
Collocations
sound wave |light wave |radio wave
Synonyms
oscillation (Refers to the repeated motion itself, not necessarily involving energy transfer over distance.)
Antonyms
stillness (The absence of motion or vibration.)
Themes
science
Definition

In science, a repeating movement that moves energy from one place to another without moving matter permanently.

In physics, a disturbance or vibration that travels through space or a medium, transferring energy without permanent displacement of particles.

Grammar
Dictionary form
wave
IPA
GB/wˈeɪv/
US/wˈeɪv/
Syllables & stress
wave (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (wave)
Word forms
Noun
  • Base: wave
  • Plural: waves
Verb
  • Base: wave
  • 3rd Person Singular: waves
  • Present Participle: waving
  • Past: waved
Word family
Forms
waves noun waving verb waved verb
Core family
wavy adjective
Related words
wavelength noun B2 microwave noun A2
Expressions

the new wave of [something]

1
/ðə njˈu wˈeɪv əv sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase

Recent group or style movement

A new group of people or things that are different from those before them in some area like art, politics, etc.

Examples
  • The new wave of artists is changing the music scene.
  • We are seeing a new wave of technology startups.

wave goodbye to [something]

1
/wˈeɪv ɡˌʊdbˈaɪ tə sˈʌmθɪŋ/
fixed phrase

Accept loss of something

To realize you will not have something anymore and accept it.

Examples
  • After the injury, he had to wave goodbye to his football career.
  • If we don't act now, we can wave goodbye to our savings.

make waves

1
/mˈeɪk wˈeɪvz/
idiom informal

Cause trouble or change norms

To cause change or trouble by doing something different or unexpected.

Examples
  • She didn’t want to make waves at her new job, so she kept quiet.
  • The report is making waves in political circles.

make waves

2
/mˈeɪk wˈeɪvz/
idiom informal

to cause trouble or change things too much

To cause problems by attracting attention or trying to change things too much.

Examples
  • Try not to make waves during the meeting.
  • She made waves by questioning the manager's decision.

Welcome back!

Please sign in to continue

Forgot password?
Don't have an account? Sign up