Waste - English meaning

verb

Use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse.

Usage examples:

The judge abused his power by imposing the fines

noun

The improper use of something.

Usage examples:

Alcohol abuse

verb

Cruel or inhumane treatment

adjective

(of land or a climate) having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation.

Usage examples:

The arid plains north of cape town

adjective

(of land or weather) having little rain; very dry

Usage examples:

An arid region

adjective

Very dry and without enough rain for plants

Usage examples:

The desert is so arid that nothing can grow there.

verb

(of body tissue or an organ) waste away, especially as a result of the degeneration of cells, or become vestigial during evolution.

Usage examples:

The calf muscles will atrophy

noun

The process of atrophying or state of having atrophied.

Usage examples:

Gastric atrophy

verb

(of a part of the body) to be reduced in size and therefore strength, or, more generally, to become weaker

Usage examples:

After several months in a hospital bed, my leg muscles had atrophied., in the 1980s, their politica…

adjective

(of a person or part of the body) not clothed or covered.

Usage examples:

He was bare from the waist up

verb

Uncover (a part of the body or other thing) and expose it to view.

Usage examples:

He bared his chest to show his scar

determiner

A large amount or number of.

Usage examples:

My birthday's on the 22nd—i'm gonna get bare cash

adjective

(of land) too poor to produce much or any vegetation.

Usage examples:

The plains of kyrenia were barren

noun

A barren tract or tracts of land.

Usage examples:

The newfoundland barrens

adjective

Unable to produce plants or fruit

Usage examples:

We drove through a barren, rocky landscape.

noun

The state of not being able to produce plants or fruit

Usage examples:

A short drive through the countryside reveals vast swathes of barrenness., the city gives way to sp…

noun

The condition of not being able to have children or young animals

Usage examples:

Infertility treatment promises to overcome barrenness.

noun

The fact of being empty or without anything new or creative

Usage examples:

He dreaded a life of barrenness and isolation., all his talent can't disguise the barrenness of the…

noun

Scattered pieces of rubbish or remains.

Usage examples:

Workmen were clearing the roads of the debris from shattered buildings

noun

Broken or torn pieces left from the destruction of something larger

Usage examples:

After the tornado, debris from damaged trees and houses littered the town.

noun

Broken or torn pieces of something larger

Usage examples:

Debris from the aircraft was scattered over a large area.

verb

(of organic matter) rot or decompose through the action of bacteria and fungi.

Usage examples:

The body had begun to decay

noun

The state or process of rotting or decomposition.

Usage examples:

Hardwood is more resistant to decay than softwood

noun

Damage, or a state that becomes gradually worse

Usage examples:

The dentist says i have a lot of tooth decay., there’s still too much crime, poverty, and decay in …

verb

(typically of something regarded as good) become smaller, fewer, or less; decrease.

Usage examples:

The birth rate continued to decline

noun

A gradual and continuous loss of strength, numbers, quality, or value.

Usage examples:

A serious decline in bird numbers

verb

To go down in amount or quality; lessen or weaken

Usage examples:

His interest in the project declined after his wife died., her health declined quickly., [ t ] she …

adjective

Having lost the physical, mental, or moral qualities considered normal and desirable; showing evidence of decline.

Usage examples:

A degenerate form of a higher civilization

noun

An immoral or corrupt person.

Usage examples:

Get out of my house, you degenerate!

verb

Decline or deteriorate physically, mentally, or morally.

Usage examples:

The quality of life had degenerated

verb

Use up the supply or resources of.

Usage examples:

Reservoirs have been depleted by years of drought

verb

To reduce something in size or amount, esp. supplies, energy, or money

Usage examples:

Acid rain depletes the region’s fish stocks., [ u ] the depletion of our savings is starting to wor…

verb

To reduce the amount or size of something, especially a supply of energy, an amount of money, etc.

Usage examples:

Healthcare for a sick patient can quickly deplete retirement savings.

verb

Abandon (a person, cause, or organization) in a way considered disloyal or treacherous.

Usage examples:

We feel our public representatives have deserted us

noun

A waterless, desolate area of land with little or no vegetation, typically one covered with sand.

Usage examples:

The desert of the sinai peninsula is a harsh place

adjective

Like a desert.

Usage examples:

Overgrazing has created desert conditions

adjective

(of a place) uninhabited and giving an impression of bleak emptiness.

Usage examples:

A desolate pennine moor

verb

Make (a place) appear bleakly empty.

Usage examples:

The droughts that desolated the dry plains

adjective

(of a place) having no living things; empty

Usage examples:

A desolate landscape, when her son left for a year abroad, she felt desolate.

verb

Become progressively worse.

Usage examples:

Relations between the countries had deteriorated sharply

verb

To become worse

Usage examples:

She went into the hospital when her condition began to deteriorate., a deterioration in relations b…

verb

To become worse

Usage examples:

If the economy continues to deteriorate, it will affect the firm's future performance., sales will …

noun

Waste or debris of any kind.

Usage examples:

The streets were foul with detritus

noun

Waste material or rubbish, especially left after a particular event

Usage examples:

Detritus of the stadium was littered with the detritus of yesterday's concert.

noun

A loose mass of decaying material

verb

(with reference to a feeling or emotion) disappear or cause to disappear.

Usage examples:

The concern she'd felt for him had wholly dissipated

verb

To disappear gradually, or to cause something to disappear gradually

Usage examples:

[ t ] it took months of effort to dissipate the oil spill in the north sea.

verb

To (cause to) gradually disappear or waste

Usage examples:

The heat gradually dissipates into the atmosphere., his anger dissipated as the situation became cl…

noun

Overindulgence in sensual pleasures; dissipated living.

Usage examples:

A descent into drunkenness and sexual dissipation

noun

The process of gradually disappearing

Usage examples:

He sees a growing dissipation of our cultural values., scientists say the dissipation of the el niñ…

noun

Loss of energy, for example when something cools down

Usage examples:

The energy balance reveals a continuous dissipation of energy., the wavy edge to the discs is claim…

verb

Cause the water or other liquid in (something) to run out, leaving it empty or dry.

Usage examples:

We drained the swimming pool

noun

A channel or pipe carrying off surplus liquid, especially rainwater or liquid waste.

Usage examples:

The room's toilet pipes and shower drains carry this waste to a holding tank.

verb

Emptying something by allowing liquid to run out of it

plural noun

The remnants of a liquid left in a container, together with any sediment.

Usage examples:

Coffee dregs

plural noun

Small, solid pieces that sink to the bottom of a liquid

Usage examples:

Coffee dregs, the dregs of society

noun

The small solid pieces that sink to the bottom of some liquids, such as wine or coffee, that are not usually drunk

Usage examples:

I wanted a last drink of coffee, but there were only dregs left., dregs of he emptied the dregs of …

noun

Something regarded as worthless; rubbish.

Usage examples:

There are bargains if you have the patience to sift through the dross

noun

Something that has no use or no value

Usage examples:

So much of what's on tv is pure dross., we read all the manuscripts but 95 percent are dross.

noun

Liquid waste or sewage discharged into a river or the sea.

Usage examples:

Industrial effluent

noun

Liquid waste that is sent out from factories or other places, often into the sea or rivers

Usage examples:

[ c ] industrial effluents and sewage remain problems.

noun

Liquid waste that is sent out from factories or places where sewage is dealt with, usually flowing into rivers, lakes, or the sea

Usage examples:

Effluents from local factories are finding their way into the river.

noun

The state of containing nothing.

Usage examples:

The vast emptiness of space

noun

Empty space

Usage examples:

She loves the emptiness of the desert., he tried to ignore the feeling of emptiness .

noun

The fact of not being sincere or having no real meaning

Usage examples:

The emptiness of these political gestures

adjective

Containing nothing; not filled or occupied.

Usage examples:

She put down her empty cup

verb

Remove all the contents of (a container).

Usage examples:

We empty the till at closing time

noun

A bottle or glass left empty of its contents.

Usage examples:

The barman collected the empties

noun

An amount of something that is more than necessary, permitted, or desirable.

Usage examples:

Are you suffering from an excess of stress in your life?

adjective

Exceeding a prescribed or desirable amount.

Usage examples:

Trim any excess fat off the meat

noun

An amount that is more than acceptable, expected, or reasonable

Usage examples:

They both eat to excess (= a lot more than they need)., the company’s losses are in excess of (= mo…

verb

Make (someone) feel very tired.

Usage examples:

Her day out had exhausted her

noun

Waste gases or air expelled from an engine, turbine, or other machine in the course of its operation.

Usage examples:

Buses spewing out black clouds of exhaust

verb

To make a person or an animal extremely tired

Usage examples:

The long hike up the mountain exhausted us all., after a whole day with the kids, her patience was …

adjective

Added to an existing or usual amount or number; additional.

Usage examples:

They offered him an extra thirty-five cents an hour

adverb

To a greater extent than usual; especially.

Usage examples:

He is trying to be extra good

noun

An item in addition to what is usual or strictly necessary.

Usage examples:

I had an education with all the extras

noun

Lack of restraint in spending money or using resources.

Usage examples:

His reckless extravagance with other people's money

noun

The practice of spending more money than is necessary or reasonable, or something that is expensive and not necessary

Usage examples:

[ c ] in those days, a second car seemed like a needless extravagance.

noun

Behaviour in which you spend more money than you need to

Usage examples:

I think she was shocked by my extravagance.

verb

Gradually grow faint and disappear.

Usage examples:

The light had faded and dusk was advancing

noun

The process of becoming less bright.

Usage examples:

The sun can cause colour fade

verb

Become less clearly visible or distinguishable

noun

A piece of cloth or similar material, typically oblong or square, attachable by one edge to a pole or rope and used as the symbol or emblem of a country or institution or as a decoration during public festivities.

Usage examples:

The american flag

verb

Mark (an item) for attention or treatment in a specified way.

Usage examples:

The spellcheck program flags any words that are not in its dictionary

noun

A flat stone slab, typically rectangular or square, used for paving.

Usage examples:

Stone flags are £32 per square yard and slates go for £2 each.

phrasal verb

Spend frivolously and unwisely

phrasal verb

To waste money, time, or an opportunity

Usage examples:

Retirees must plan how to fill their hours or they risk frittering the time away.

noun

Rubbish or waste, especially domestic refuse.

Usage examples:

Garbage littered the estate

Worthless material that is to be disposed of

noun

Waste material, esp. unwanted food, or a container in which waste is kept

Usage examples:

She threw the cheese in the garbage., take the garbage can/bags out to the curb to be picked up., t…

adjective

(of a person, animal, or plant) unable to reproduce itself; unable to have young.

Usage examples:

Infertile couples are offered specialist advice

adjective

(of people or animals) not able to produce young, or (of land) of poor quality for growing crops

Usage examples:

An infertile couple, infertile soil

adjective

An infertile person, animal, or plant cannot have babies, produce young, or produce new plants

Usage examples:

It has been estimated that one in eight couples is infertile.

noun

Old or discarded articles that are considered useless or of little value.

Usage examples:

The cellars are full of junk

verb

Discard or abandon unceremoniously.

Usage examples:

Sort out what could be sold off and junk the rest

noun

A flat-bottomed sailing vessel of a kind typical of china and the east indies, with a prominent stem and lugsails.

Usage examples:

There is some evidence for development of robust, high-seas sailing junks in china by thirteenth ce…

verb

(of a person, animal, or plant) lose or lack vitality; grow weak.

Usage examples:

Plants may appear to be languishing simply because they are dormant

verb

To exist in an unpleasant or unwanted situation, often for a long time

Usage examples:

Members of congress have introduced plans, but those have languished.

verb

To be weak or fail to improve

Usage examples:

Traditional industries continue to languish or disappear.

adjective

Sumptuously rich, elaborate, or luxurious.

Usage examples:

A lavish banquet

verb

Bestow something in generous or extravagant quantities on.

Usage examples:

The media couldn't lavish enough praise on the film

adjective

Spending, giving, or using more than is necessary or reasonable; more than enough

Usage examples:

The team has the most lavish training facility in the league., they live in a lavishly furnished ap…

noun

The quality of being very expensive or impressive

Usage examples:

He liked to create an atmosphere of lavishness and luxury., the lavishness of the state rooms took …

noun

The fact of being large in quantity or degree

Usage examples:

People do not dare question the lavishness of his spending., the lavishness of farm subsidies means…

plural noun

Things that have been left as worthless.

Usage examples:

She dropped her lunch leavings into a bin

noun

The things that a person or an animal leaves when they have finished doing something

Usage examples:

The leavings from the grinding of seeds and grain will be checked for starch and protein content., …

noun

Rubbish such as paper, cans, and bottles left lying in an open or public place.

Usage examples:

Always clear up after a picnic and never drop litter

verb

Make (a place or area) untidy with rubbish or a large number of objects left lying about.

Usage examples:

Clothes and newspapers littered the floor

noun

Pieces of paper and other small objects that have been thrown out and are left on the ground in public places

Usage examples:

The park was littered with bottles and soda cans after the concert.

adjective

Sad because one has no friends or company.

Usage examples:

Lonely old people whose families do not care for them

noun

The use of something in a way that is illegal or wrong

Usage examples:

The misapplication of sth the misapplication of bank funds by an employee

verb

Spend (one's time or money) foolishly, wrongly, or wastefully.

Usage examples:

He was forced to resign following accusations of misspending public funds

verb

To use time or money in a way that wastes it or is not wise

Usage examples:

We must stop public money being misspent in this way., being a good pool player is usually a sign o…

verb

Spend (one's time or money) foolishly, wrongly, or wastefully.

Usage examples:

He was forced to resign following accusations of misspending public funds

verb

To use time or money in a way that wastes it or is not wise

Usage examples:

We must stop public money being misspent in this way., being a good pool player is usually a sign o…

verb

Use (something) in the wrong way or for the wrong purpose.

Usage examples:

He was found guilty of misusing public funds

noun

The wrong or improper use of something.

Usage examples:

Drugs of such potency that their misuse can have dire consequences

verb

To use something in an unsuitable way or in a way that was not intended

Usage examples:

She’s been accused of misusing federal funds to pay for her son’s private school expenses., [ c ] t…

verb

Slowly decay or disintegrate, especially because of neglect.

Usage examples:

The books, if any are ever printed, will moulder in the warehouse

noun

A person or thing that moulds something.

Usage examples:

A moulder of public opinion

verb

To decay slowly

Usage examples:

I found these apples mouldering in the cupboard., there's an old bike that's been mouldering away i…

plural noun

Rubbish or dregs.

noun

The quality of spending or using large amounts of money, time, energy, etc., especially in a way that is not very wise

Usage examples:

His travels enhanced his reputation for prodigality., as a novelist, her power springs directly fro…

verb

Indicate or show that one is not willing to do something.

Usage examples:

I refused to answer

noun

Matter thrown away or rejected as worthless; rubbish.

Usage examples:

Heaps of refuse

verb

Continue to exist, especially after other similar people or things have ceased to do so.

Usage examples:

A cloister is all that remains of the monastery

plural noun

The parts left over after other parts have been removed, used, or destroyed.

Usage examples:

The remains of a sandwich lunch were on the table

verb

(chiefly of animal or vegetable matter) decay or cause to decay by the action of bacteria and fungi; decompose.

Usage examples:

The chalets were neglected and their woodwork was rotting away

noun

The process of decaying.

Usage examples:

The leaves were turning black with rot

verb

To decay, or to cause something to decay or weaken

Usage examples:

[ i ] the fallen apples rotted on the ground., [ t ] dampness rotted the old wood., rot weakened th…

noun

Waste material; refuse or litter.

Usage examples:

Householders may be charged for the removal of non-recyclable rubbish

verb

Criticize severely and reject as worthless.

Usage examples:

He rubbished the idea of a european community-wide carbon tax

adjective

Very bad; worthless or useless.

Usage examples:

People might say i was a rubbish manager

noun

A small piece or amount of something, especially one that is left over after the greater part has been used.

Usage examples:

I scribbled her address on a scrap of paper

verb

Discard or remove from service (a redundant, old, or inoperative vehicle, vessel, or machine), especially so as to convert it to scrap metal.

Usage examples:

A bold decision was taken to scrap existing plant

verb

Engage in a minor fight or quarrel.

Usage examples:

The older boys started scrapping with me

noun

A small piece or amount of something, especially one that is left over after the greater part has been used.

Usage examples:

I scribbled her address on a scrap of paper

verb

Discard or remove from service (a redundant, old, or inoperative vehicle, vessel, or machine), especially so as to convert it to scrap metal.

Usage examples:

A bold decision was taken to scrap existing plant

verb

Engage in a minor fight or quarrel.

Usage examples:

The older boys started scrapping with me

noun

Waste water and excrement conveyed in sewers.

Usage examples:

Sewage treatment

noun

Waste and liquid from toilets

Usage examples:

The storm caused raw sewage to flow into the bay.

verb

Become or make smaller in size or amount.

Usage examples:

The workforce shrank to a thousand

noun

A psychiatrist.

Usage examples:

You should see a shrink

verb

To become smaller or cause something to become smaller

Usage examples:

[ i ] the show’s audience has shrunk in the last few months., [ t ] i shrank my sweater by putting …

adjective

Done or existing alone.

Usage examples:

I live a pretty solitary life

noun

A recluse or hermit.

Usage examples:

He had something of the solitary about him

adjective

Being the only one, or not being with other similar things, often by choice

Usage examples:

I live a solitary life., he enjoys solitary walks in the wilderness.

idiom

To regularly spend large amounts of money

Usage examples:

He says his wife spends money like water., the government is spending money like water and has no r…

verb

Waste (something, especially money or time) in a reckless and foolish manner.

Usage examples:

£100m of taxpayers' money has been squandered on administering the tax

verb

To waste money, or to use something valuable that you have a limited amount of in a bad or foolish way

Usage examples:

Government should not squander the taxpayers’ money., don’t squander your opportunities when you ar…

verb

To waste large amounts of money or other resources

Usage examples:

Fifty-five percent of likely voters are convinced that much of the state's tax money is being squan…

verb

Waste (something, especially money or time) in a reckless and foolish manner.

Usage examples:

£100m of taxpayers' money has been squandered on administering the tax

verb

Present participle of squander

Usage examples:

They'll quite happily squander a whole year's savings on two weeks in the sun., ireland squandered …

adjective

Unnecessary, especially through being more than enough.

Usage examples:

The purchaser should avoid asking for superfluous information

adjective

More than is needed; extra and not necessary

Usage examples:

Our new mayor plans to eliminate superfluous programs., much of the school day is wasted on superfl…

noun

Waste material; refuse.

Usage examples:

The subway entrance was blocked with trash

verb

Damage or destroy.

Usage examples:

My apartment's been totally trashed

noun

Anything that is worthless and of low quality; waste

Usage examples:

We filled three cans with trash from the garage., i simply trash that kind of mail., some people se…

adjective

(of land) not used for growing crops.

Usage examples:

These meadowlands have lain uncultivated for centuries

adjective

Not producing good or helpful results; unproductive.

Usage examples:

The meeting was unfruitful

adjective

Not producing any good or valuable result

Usage examples:

The two sides have been involved in lengthy - but so far unfruitful - negotiations., if allowed to …

adjective

(of a place) without inhabitants.

Usage examples:

Small uninhabited islands

adjective

(of a place) having no inhabitants.

Usage examples:

Three missiles landed in unpopulated areas

adjective

Not producing or able to produce large amounts of goods, crops, or other commodities.

Usage examples:

Unproductive land must be reforested

adjective

Not useful, or not creating anything

Usage examples:

We wasted three days in unproductive discussions.

adjective

Not producing goods, crops, profits, etc. in a satisfactory amount

Usage examples:

Unproductive investments/jobs/projects, grass planted on currently unproductive land could form a u…

adjective

(of a business or activity) not yielding profit or financial gain.

Usage examples:

The mines became increasingly unprofitable

adjective

Not resulting in profit

Usage examples:

Unprofitable investments/businesses

adjective

Not making a profit

Usage examples:

An unprofitable business/company/store when the asian financial crisis hit, it shut 32 unprofitable…

adjective

Not fit to be used.

Usage examples:

The steps were overgrown and unusable

adjective

Something that is unusable cannot be used, especially because it is broken or not safe

Usage examples:

The normal supply of water has turned brown and unusable., the virus deletes files and corrupts ess…

adjective

Not being, or never having been, used.

Usage examples:

Any unused equipment will be welcomed back

adjective

Not being used at present, or never having been used

Usage examples:

The stationary exercise bike sits unused in the basement.

adjective

Not or no longer desired.

Usage examples:

Affairs can lead to unwanted pregnancies

adjective

Not desired or needed

Usage examples:

Charities such as computers for schools are happy to take unwanted computers.

adjective

Not wanted

Usage examples:

Unwanted calls/emails/mail unwanted emails cost consumers and business nationwide an estimated $70 …

adjective

Not fulfilling or not expected to achieve the intended purpose or desired outcome.

Usage examples:

A piece of useless knowledge

adjective

Of no value; worthless

Usage examples:

With dead batteries, the flashlight was useless.

noun

Very great extent or size; immensity.

Usage examples:

The vastness of the atlantic ocean

noun

The quality of being extremely big

Usage examples:

The vastness of the universe

adjective

Not valid or legally binding.

Usage examples:

The contract was void

noun

A completely empty space.

Usage examples:

The black void of space

verb

Declare that (something) is not valid or legally binding.

Usage examples:

The supreme court voided the statute

noun

An unused area of land that has become barren or overgrown.

Usage examples:

We'd creep through a hole in the fence on this bit of wasteland and play games in the bushes

noun

A large area of land that has not been developed, usually because it cannot be easily used

Usage examples:

Rain forests are being transformed into barren wasteland., television is a vast wasteland.

adjective

(of an animal or plant) living or growing in the natural environment; not domesticated or cultivated.

Usage examples:

A herd of wild goats

noun

A natural state or uncultivated or uninhabited region.

Usage examples:

Kiwis are virtually extinct in the wild

verb

Treat (a person or animal) harshly, so that they become untrusting or nervous.

Usage examples:

Let your pigeon fly for a while: we don't want to wild him

noun

An uncultivated, uninhabited, and inhospitable region.

Usage examples:

Ahead is a barren land of lochans and beautifully-ridged mountains rising steeply from an uninhabit…

noun

An area of land that has not been farmed or had towns and roads built on it, esp. because it is difficult to live in as a result of its extremely cold or hot weather or bad earth

Usage examples:

Large parts of canada are still wilderness.

noun

If someone previously in a position of power is now in the wilderness, they have lost their power and it is not clear if or how they will get it back

Usage examples:

His dismissal from the cabinet led to a long period in the political wilderness.

noun

A natural state or uncultivated or uninhabited region.

Usage examples:

Kiwis are virtually extinct in the wild

verb

Treat (a person or animal) harshly, so that they become untrusting or nervous.

Usage examples:

Let your pigeon fly for a while: we don't want to wild him

adjective

(of an animal or plant) living or growing in the natural environment; not domesticated or cultivated.

Usage examples:

A herd of wild goats

verb

(of a plant, leaf, or flower) become limp through heat, loss of water, or disease; droop.

Usage examples:

At this time, chill treatment seedlings were severely wilted with extensive leaf rolling characteri…

noun

Any of a number of fungal or bacterial diseases of plants characterized by wilting of the foliage.

Usage examples:

These varieties are more resistant to aphids and wilt

verb

Archaic second person singular of will1.

verb

(of a plant) become dry and shrivelled.

Usage examples:

The grass had withered to an unappealing brown

verb

To become, or cause something to become, weak, dry, and smaller

Usage examples:

[ t ] hot, dry weather withered the peanut crop in the southeast., [ i ] fig. public interest in th…

adjective

Having no real value or use.

Usage examples:

That promise is worthless

adjective

Having no value in money

Usage examples:

Now that the company has gone bankrupt, your contract is worthless., examples of this artist’s earl…

adjective

Having no value

Usage examples:

The stock is virtually worthless, trading at less than 6 cents a share., the security system he bou…