belt
BEHLT
Belt (noun) means a strip of leather or fabric worn around the waist to hold up clothing or carry items. Example: “He tightened his belt after losing weight.”
noun
1
A strip of leather or fabric worn around the waist to hold up clothing or carry items.
"He tightened his belt after losing weight."
"He needed a longer belt to fit his new trousers."
"She wore a thin leather belt over the dress."
2
A safety strap that holds a person in place, such as in a car.
"Make sure your seat belt is fastened."
"The pilot told everyone to keep their belt fastened during turbulence."
"The child's belt clicked into place in the back seat."
3
A looping band that transfers motion or power in a machine.
"The mechanic replaced the worn fan belt."
"A loose belt in the engine made a loud squealing noise."
"The conveyor belt carried boxes across the warehouse floor."
4
A region known for a particular feature, industry, or crop.
"The factory sits in the middle of the Rust Belt."
"Farmers in the wheat belt prepare their fields every spring."
"The commuter belt around the city has many quiet towns."
verb
1
Informally, to hit hard, or to sing loudly and powerfully.
"She belted out the final chorus to huge applause."
"He belted the ball over the fence and the crowd cheered."
"The choir belted out the old song at the end of the night."
How to use belt
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA strap worn around the waist, or by extension anything band-shaped that holds, restrains, or drives something — also used informally for hitting or singing powerfully.
Common pairings
seat belt
belt out a song
below the belt
tighten your belt
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like belt.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- belts
- Third person singular
- belts
- Past tense
- belted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He tightened his _____ after losing weight.
Etymology
From Old English belt, borrowed long ago from Latin balteus, "sword-belt."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
unbelt
Related words
Rhymes for belt
See all rhymes for belt →Frequently asked questions
What does “belt” mean?
The word “belt” means a strip of leather or fabric worn around the waist to hold up clothing or carry items. In plain terms, a strap worn around the waist, or by extension anything band-shaped that holds, restrains, or drives something — also used informally for hitting or singing powerfully.
How do you pronounce “belt”?
“Belt” is pronounced BEHLT (/ˈbɛlt/ in IPA).
How do you use “belt” in a sentence?
Here is “belt” used in a sentence: “He tightened his belt after losing weight.”
What is another word for “belt”?
Words with a similar meaning to “belt” include restraint, safety belt and seat belt.
What part of speech is “belt”?
Depending on how it is used, “belt” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “belt” come from?
The word “belt” comes from Latin. From Old English belt, borrowed long ago from Latin balteus, "sword-belt.".
Is “belt” a common word?
“Belt” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “belt” have?
“Belt” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a strip of leather or fabric worn around the waist to hold up clothing or carry items.
What are the different types of belts?
In clothing, belts range from formal leather dress belts to casual braided or fabric ones, varying by width, buckle, and material. The word also names many non-clothing items: seat belts, conveyor belts, fan belts, martial-arts rank belts, and geographic 'belts' such as the Rust Belt or a belt of forest.
What is the difference between a belt and a sash?
A belt is usually a fairly narrow strip of leather or fabric with a buckle, worn to hold up clothing or carry tools. A sash is a wider band of cloth, generally tied rather than buckled, and is more often decorative or ceremonial, like a beauty-pageant or military dress sash.
What are the other meanings of belt?
Beyond the waist accessory, 'belt' has many uses. Mechanically, it's a loop that transfers motion, like a conveyor or fan belt. Geographically, it's a broad zone sharing a feature, such as the Bible Belt. In martial arts, a coloured belt marks rank, and as a verb, to 'belt' can mean to hit hard or sing loudly.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include belt:
