noun

waste

WAYST

noun

Material that is no longer wanted or useful; rubbish.

"The factory has to dispose of its waste safely."

"Recycling helps reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill."

The act of using something carelessly or without getting proper value from it.

"Leaving the lights on all day is such a waste of electricity."

verb

To use something carelessly or fail to make good use of it.

"Don't waste your money on things you don't need."

"She felt she was wasting her talent in that job."

adjective

Not used, cultivated, or wanted; discarded or barren.

"The waste ground behind the factory was fenced off."

How to Use Waste

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo use something poorly without benefit, or the useless material left over from something.

Common pairings

waste time waste money a waste of effort toxic waste

Word Forms

more waste comparative, more waste comparative, wasted past tense, wastes plural, waste plural, wasted plural, wastes singular, waste singular, wasted singular, wastest singular, wastedst singular, wasteth singular, most waste superlative, most waste superlative

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Fill the Gap

Can you complete this real example?

The factory has to dispose of its _____ safely.

Etymology

From Anglo-Norman waste, going back to a Frankish word for "a waste" or "empty land," from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "empty" or "desolate."

Synonyms

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top duppy

Related Words

top excellent summit exceed

Rhymes for waste

haste taste paste caste baste chaste namaste distaste toothpaste aftertaste

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