In this paper, the characteristics of laboratory wind waves under vari
ous wind speeds and water depths are studied. It is found that either
the real or the imaginary part of the bispectrum can be related to the
asymmetry of the wave profile, and the bicoherence is related to the
ratio of nonlinear to linear wave component. Occasionally, these two c
ategories of nonlinear index lead to opposite inferences, because each
of them has its own significance and functions. The applicability of
linear wave spectral model in ocean waves becomes questionable only wh
en strong nonlinearity is indicated by both of these two indexes, The
linear spectral representation of wave fields does not necessarily bec
ome inadequate as water depth decreases, and its appropriateness can b
e examined through the characteristics of the bispectrum.