Moving back and forth in a gentle, flowing motion, or gesturing with the hand as a greeting or signal. Present participle of 'wave.'
From Old English 'wafian' meaning 'to wave with the hands' or 'to fluctuate,' related to 'wæfre' (restless, wavering). The connection between hand gestures and water waves comes from the similar undulating motion observed in both actions.
The simple act of waving hello is actually a powerful evolutionary signal - it shows our hands are empty and we mean no harm! This gesture is so universal that even babies start waving around 9-12 months old, often before they can speak, suggesting it's deeply ingrained in human communication.
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