This is the 875th most frequent Hebrew word.
גל
Wave.
In this sentence, 'גלים' (waves) refers to water waves in the sea.
גלים מתנפצים אל החוף.
Waves crash onto the shore.
Here, 'גל' (wave) is used metaphorically to describe a phenomenon, a wave of heat.
גל של חום עבר בעיר.
A heatwave swept through the city.
In this instance, 'גל' (wave) is employed figuratively to express a surge of emotional intensity.