26984 words

waste

18 definitions • 35 examples
1
an unnecessary or wrong use of money, substances, time, energy, abilities, etc.:

Examples:

a waste of time That meeting achieved absolutely nothing - it was a complete waste of time.
a waste of She's been unemployed for two years and it's such a waste of her talents.
My mother couldn't stand waste - she always made us eat everything on our plates.
2
to not be used, eaten, etc.:

Examples:

You can even make stock from the bones, so that nothing goes to waste.
Each year, the leftover flu vaccine goes to waste.
It's not fair to say that all the money and hard work went to waste.
A lot of time and money have gone to waste because of a flawed design.
We really don't want all this food to go to waste.
3
unwanted matter or material of any type, especially what is left after useful substances or parts have been removed:

Examples:

This city produces 20 million tons of household waste each year.
He opposes any kind of nuclear waste being dumped at sea.
Millions of gallons of untreated human waste (= excrement) flow into the river every day.
waste paper The Japanese recycle more than half of their waste paper.
4
an area of ground in or near a city that is not built on or used in any way:

Examples:

His body had been dumped in an area of waste ground just outside the city.
5
large areas of land that are not used to grow crops and have few living animals or plants:

Examples:

6
to use too much of something or use something badly when there is a limited amount of it:

Examples:

You waste a lot of water by taking a bath instead of a shower.
waste time Come on, let's get started - we've wasted enough time already.
waste your money Don't waste your money on such junk.
7
to kill someone
8
a bad use of something valuable that you have only a limited amount of:

Examples:

a waste of time/money
a waste of talent/ability
I felt like being there was just a waste.
9
unwanted matter or material of any type, esp. what is left after use:

Examples:

[ U ] Most people don’t recycle kitchen waste.
10
Human waste is excrement.
11
Waste disposal is the process or system for getting rid of unwanted material by burying it, burning it, or dropping it in the sea.
12
to use something without care or thought:

Examples:

Why should I waste my time on her?
You’re just wasting your money buying that stuff.
13

Examples:

a waste of money/resources/time The meeting was a complete waste of time.
All departments have been instructed to avoid waste.
14
materials or substances with no use or value, for example, ones that are produced when other products are being made:

Examples:

the disposal of waste
15
left after what is valuable has been used, and no longer needed:

Examples:

the collection and recycling of waste materials
16
to use more money, time, resources, etc. than is needed:

Examples:

The board decided it could not waste any more time and money developing the product.
17
to not use something in an effective way:

Examples:

waste a chance/effort/opportunity Oftel had the chance to create real competition to BT but it has wasted the opportunity.
18
to do something immediately:

Examples:

The board wasted no time in appointing a successor.

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