A wave is a moving ridge on the surface of water, or any repeating movement that travels through space, like sound or light.
“Wave” comes from Old English “wæf,” “wafian,” related to moving or wavering. It is tied to older Germanic roots about motion and fluctuation.
Ocean waves move energy forward while the water mostly just bobs up and down in place. Physics uses the same idea for invisible waves—sound, light, and even Wi‑Fi are all waves of different kinds.
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