wake definition

1. an island in the western Pacific between Guam and Hawaii
2. the wave that spreads behind a boat as it moves forward
• examples: the motorboat's wake capsized the canoe
3. a vigil held over a corpse the night before burial
• examples: there's no weeping at an Irish wake
4. be awake, be alert, be there
5. stop sleeping
• examples: She woke up to the sound of the alarm clock
6. make aware of
• examples: His words woke us to terrible facts of the situation