to walk in water, when partially immersed

He wasn't swimming, he was wading.

to play in water

The children were wading in the pool most of the afternoon.

to walk through water, snow, sand, or any other substance that impedes free motion or offers resistance to movement

to wade through the mud.

to make one's way slowly or laboriously (often fol. by through )

to wade through a dull book.

Obsolete . to go or proceed.

to pass through or cross by wading; ford

to wade a stream.

an act or instance of wading

We went for a wade in the shallows.

wade in or into,

to begin energetically.

to attack strongly

to wade into a thoughtless child; to wade into a mob of rioters.

verb

attack , attempt , bathe , drudge , fall to , ford , get feet wet , get stuck in , go for , initiate , jump in , labor , launch , light into , paddle , pitch in , set about , set to , splash , start , stumble , tackle , tear into , toil , trek , walk , work through , slog , slop , trudge , plod , proceed , struggle

phrasal verb

dive , lunge , go at , sail in , tackle