noun C (informal/neologism)
1. The continuous period of consciousness experienced by an individual between awakening from one major episode of
sleep and falling into the next.
Usage note: Often functions as a subjective alternative to the
24-hour calendar
day, particularly when an individual'
s sleep schedule is irregular, nocturnal, or spans multiple calendar dates.
Etymology: Derived from the Old English wacan (to become awake), functioning as a noun conversion of the adjective awake, by analogy with the pairing of the verb/noun
sleep.
Example: "After
pulling an all-nighter, my wake lasted nearly thirty hours."
Example: "Working the night
shift completely decouples your wakes from the traditional
daytime."