Eh depends on the assault tactic. Like charging a trench in WW1 was just as suicidal, but not exactly a human wave in the sense that most made it to the trench, but died in hand to hand combat. If the attack itself is meant to likely fail but cause casualties, that is different from a delaying action or a charge.

Or maybe the difference is "was it intentional", like the charge of the light brigade was a human and horse wave attack but it was VERY much not intended to be one