waste
10 ENTRIES FOUND:
plural
wastes
plural
wastes
Britannica Dictionary definition of WASTE
1
a
[noncount]
:
loss of something valuable that occurs because too much of it is being used or because it is being used in a way that is not necessary or effective
-
The current system causes a lot of waste.
-
We need to find ways to reduce/avoid unnecessary waste.
b
[singular]
:
an action or use that results in the unnecessary loss of something valuable
-
These old computers are still useful. It seems like such a waste to throw them away.
-
Any further investment would be a waste of valuable resources.
-
The show was a waste of money. [=a bad use of money]
-
The lecture was a waste of time. [=a bad use of time]
c
[singular]
:
a situation in which something valuable is not being used or is being used in a way that is not appropriate or effective
-
That role was a waste of her talents. [=a poor use of her talents]
2
:
material that is left over or that is unwanted after something has been made, done, used, etc.
—
see also toxic waste
[noncount]
-
hazardous waste
-
disposal of industrial waste
-
waste removal
-
The city oversees waste disposal contracts.
-
household waste [=trash, rubbish]
[count]
-
hazardous wastes
-
household wastes
3
[noncount]
:
the solid and liquid substances that are produced by the body
:
feces and urine
-
liquid/solid waste
-
a waste treatment plant
4
wastes
[plural]
literary
:
a large and empty area of land
:
wasteland
-
the frozen wastes of the tundra
a waste of space
chiefly British, informal
:
a worthless person or thing
-
He's a complete waste of space.
go to waste
:
to not be used
:
to be wasted
-
It's a shame to see all that food go to waste.
-
They don't let anything go to waste when they're camping.
haste makes waste
lay waste to
2
waste
/ˈweɪst/
verb
wastes;
wasted;
wasting
2
waste
/ˈweɪst/
verb
wastes;
wasted;
wasting
Britannica Dictionary definition of WASTE
[+ object]
1
:
to use (something valuable) in a way that is not necessary or effective
:
to use more of (something) than is necessary
-
Don't waste water during the summer drought.
-
He always wasted his money on useless gadgets.
-
Turn off the lights so we don't waste electricity.
-
I think he's just wasting my time.
-
We can't afford to waste so much food.
2
:
to use (something or someone) in a way that does not produce a valuable result or effect
:
to fail to use (something or someone) in an appropriate or effective way
— often used as (be) wasted
-
We can't afford to waste this opportunity.
-
She's a good writer but she's wasting her talent. [=she's not using her talent to do the things that she should be doing]
-
My efforts were wasted.
-
He was wasted in that job. [=his talents/skills were not being used in the job]
3
slang
:
to kill or murder (someone)
-
Someone wasted him.
waste away
[phrasal verb]
:
to become thinner and weaker because of illness or lack of food
-
The disease caused her to waste away.
waste no time
:
to do something quickly
-
We wasted no time getting our tickets. [=we hurried to get our tickets]
waste not, want not
— used to say that if you never waste things you will always have what you need
waste your breath
3
waste
/ˈweɪst/
adjective
3
waste
/ˈweɪst/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of WASTE
always used before a noun
:
of, relating to, or being material that is left over or unwanted after something has been made, done, used, etc.
-
waste material/water
