noun
Uncommon
waits
wayts
Waits (noun) means a small group of singers or musicians who go around performing in the streets, traditionally around Christmas. Example: “The waits sang carols outside the pub on Christmas Eve.”
noun
1
A small group of singers or musicians who go around performing in the streets, traditionally around Christmas.
"The waits sang carols outside the pub on Christmas Eve."
"Every December the village waits go from door to door singing carols."
"We could hear the waits in the distance, singing in the frosty street."
How to use waits
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOld British term for street carollers, especially at Christmas.
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The _____ sang carols outside the pub on Christmas Eve.
Synonyms
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carolers
street musicians
Frequently asked questions
What does “waits” mean?
The word “waits” means a small group of singers or musicians who go around performing in the streets, traditionally around Christmas. In plain terms, old British term for street carollers, especially at Christmas.
How do you pronounce “waits”?
“Waits” is pronounced wayts (/weɪts/ in IPA).
How do you use “waits” in a sentence?
Here is “waits” used in a sentence: “The waits sang carols outside the pub on Christmas Eve.”
What part of speech is “waits”?
“Waits” is a noun.
Is “waits” a common word?
“Waits” is an uncommon word in modern English.
What is the difference between waits and carolers?
Waits traditionally refers to a small group of singers or musicians who go around performing in the streets, especially around Christmas, a custom particularly associated with Britain. Carolers is a more general modern term for anyone singing Christmas songs, without the specific historical or local tradition attached to "waits."
Where does the tradition of waits come from?
Waits is a traditional British term for street performers, especially musicians, who traditionally went around neighborhoods playing music around Christmas time. The custom is tied to community and seasonal celebration rather than formal concert performance.
Is waits a singular or plural word?
Waits is used as a plural noun referring to the group of singers or musicians collectively, similar to how "police" or "cattle" function as group nouns. It describes the ensemble as a whole rather than one individual performer.
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