noun Uncommon

waffle

WOF-uhl

Waffle (noun) means a crisp pastry with a grid pattern, usually eaten hot with syrup or toppings. Example: “We had waffles with maple syrup for breakfast.”

noun

A crisp pastry with a grid pattern, usually eaten hot with syrup or toppings.

"We had waffles with maple syrup for breakfast."

verb

To talk or write in a vague, long-winded way without getting to the point.

"The politician waffled on for ten minutes without answering the question."

"Stop waffling and just tell me what you decided."

To be indecisive; to keep changing your mind.

"He waffled between the two job offers for weeks."

How to use waffle

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishEither the breakfast food with a grid pattern, or talking/deciding in a vague, drawn-out way.

When to use it

The "ramble" and "be indecisive" senses are informal, mostly British usage.

Easily confused with

wafer →

Common pairings

waffle on waffle about Belgian waffle

Word forms

waffled past tense, waffled past tense, waffled past tense, waffles plural, waffles plural, waffles singular, waffles singular, waffles singular

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We had _____ with maple syrup for breakfast.

Etymology

The food sense comes from Dutch "wafel", related to "weave" because of its honeycomb grid. The "talk vaguely" sense grew separately in English, describing rambling, unfocused speech.

Origin: Dutch

Synonyms

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hesitate waver

Related words

rock hesitate sway weave waver fluctuate stammer quiver

Rhymes for waffle

raffle

See all rhymes for waffle →

Frequently asked questions

What does “waffle” mean?

The word “waffle” means a crisp pastry with a grid pattern, usually eaten hot with syrup or toppings. In plain terms, either the breakfast food with a grid pattern, or talking/deciding in a vague, drawn-out way.

How do you pronounce “waffle”?

“Waffle” is pronounced WOF-uhl (/ˈwɑf.əl/ in IPA).

How do you use “waffle” in a sentence?

Here is “waffle” used in a sentence: “We had waffles with maple syrup for breakfast.”

What part of speech is “waffle”?

Depending on how it is used, “waffle” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “waffle” come from?

The word “waffle” comes from Dutch. The food sense comes from Dutch "wafel", related to "weave" because of its honeycomb grid. The "talk vaguely" sense grew separately in English, describing rambling, unfocused speech.

Is “waffle” a common word?

“Waffle” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “waffle” have?

“Waffle” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a crisp pastry with a grid pattern, usually eaten hot with syrup or toppings.

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Words with Dutch origins

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