Waste Definition
waste
adjective
- located in a dismal or remote area; desolate; "a desert island"; "a godforsaken wilderness crossroads"; "a wild stretch of land"; "waste places"
noun
- any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted; "they collect the waste once a week"; "much of the waste material is carried off in the sewers"
- useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly; "if the effort brings no compensating gain it is a waste"; "mindless dissipation of natural resources"
- the trait of wasting resources; "a life characterized by thriftlessness and waste"; "the wastefulness of missed opportunities"
- an uninhabited wilderness that is worthless for cultivation; "the barrens of central Africa"; "the trackless wastes of the desert"
- (law) reduction in the value of an estate caused by act or neglect
verb
- spend thoughtlessly; throw away; "He wasted his inheritance on his insincere friends"; "You squandered the opportunity to get and advanced degree"
- use inefficiently or inappropriately; "waste heat"; "waste a joke on an unappreciative audience"
- get rid of; "We waste the dirty water by channeling it into the sewer"
- run off as waste; "The water wastes back into the ocean"
- get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing; "The mafia liquidated the informer"; "the double agent was neutralized"
- spend extravagantly; "waste not, want not"
- lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief; "After her husband died, she just pined away"
- cause to grow thin or weak; "The treatment emaciated him"
- cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly; "The enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion"
- become physically weaker; "Political prisoners are wasting away in many prisons all over the world"
"Waste" in song lyrics
See how waste is used in real songs:
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"Gettin straight to the point with no time to waste"
2 Live Crew — 2 Live is What We Are... (Word) -
"prone to a lick of a waste"
3rd Bass — Sons of 3rd Bass -
"Don't hesitate ain't got no time to waste"
The 49ers f/ Midnight Bully — Regain Control
Words that rhyme with waste
Usage tips for "waste"
Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "waste" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for waste to find words that pair well.