Waves move in a transverse pattern. Here's a breakdown of what that means:

* Transverse: The particles of the medium (like water or air) move perpendicular (at right angles) to the direction the wave travels. Think of a rope: when you shake one end, the wave travels along the rope, but the rope itself moves up and down (perpendicular to the wave direction).

Let's visualize this with examples:

* Water waves: When a wave travels across the surface of water, the water molecules move up and down (vertically), while the wave itself moves horizontally.

* Light waves: Light waves are also transverse, with electric and magnetic fields oscillating perpendicular to the direction the light travels.

Important Note: Some waves, like sound waves, are longitudinal. In longitudinal waves, the particles of the medium move back and forth in the same direction as the wave travels.