Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

wash|stand /wɒ ʃstænd/ (washstands ) N‑COUNT A washstand is a piece of furniture designed to hold a bowl for washing your hands and face in, which was used in former times before washbasins had taps on them.

wasn't /wɒ z ^ə nt, [AM ] wʌ z-/ Wasn't is the usual spoken form of 'was not'.

wasp /wɒ sp/ (wasps ) N‑COUNT A wasp is an insect with wings and yellow and black stripes across its body. Wasps have a painful sting like a bee but do not produce honey.

WASP /wɒ sp/ (WASPs ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] WASP is used to refer to the people in American society whose ancestors came from northern Europe, especially England, and who are considered to have a lot of power and influence. WASP is an abbreviation for 'White Anglo-Saxon Protestant'. [AM , DISAPPROVAL ] □  …a WASP with a Yale degree.

wasp|ish /wɒ sp I ʃ/ ADJ A waspish remark or sense of humour is sharp and critical.

wast|age /we I st I dʒ/

1 N‑UNCOUNT Wastage of something is the act of wasting it or the amount of it that is wasted. □ [+ of ] …a series of measures to prevent the wastage of water. □  There was a lot of wastage and many wrong decisions were hastily taken.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Wastage is the process by which part of someone's body gets weaker or smaller because they are very ill or have not eaten enough. □  This can lead to bodily weakness and muscle wastage.

3 N‑UNCOUNT Wastage refers to the number of people who leave a company, college, or other organization, especially before they have completed their education or training. [BRIT ] □  British universities have very little wastage and their graduates are good.

4 → see also natural wastage

waste ◆◆◇ /we I st/ (wastes , wasting , wasted )

1 VERB If you waste something such as time, money, or energy, you use too much of it doing something that is not important or necessary, or is unlikely to succeed. □ [V n v-ing] There could be many reasons and he was not going to waste time speculating on them. □ [V n + on ] I resolved not to waste money on a hotel. □ [V n] The system wastes a large amount of water. ● N‑SING Waste is also a noun. □ [+ of ] It is a waste of time going to the doctor with most mild complaints. □ [+ of ] I think that is a total waste of money.

2 N‑UNCOUNT Waste is the use of money or other resources on things that do not need it. □  The packets are measured to reduce waste. □  I hate waste.

3 N‑UNCOUNT Waste is material which has been used and is no longer wanted, for example because the valuable or useful part of it has been taken out. □  Congress passed a law that regulates the disposal of waste. □  Up to 10 million tonnes of toxic wastes are produced every year in the U.K… □  …the process of eliminating body waste.

4 VERB If you waste an opportunity for something, you do not take advantage of it when it is available. □ [V n] Let's not waste an opportunity to see the children. □ [V -ed] It was a wasted opportunity.

5 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Waste land is land, especially in or near a city, which is not used or looked after by anyone, and so is covered by wild plants and rubbish. □  Yarrow can be found growing wild in fields and on waste ground.

6 N‑PLURAL [adj N ] Wastes are a large area of land, for example a desert, in which there are very few people, plants, or animals. □ [+ of ] …the barren wastes of the Sahara.

7 → see also wasted

8 PHRASE If something goes to waste , it remains unused or has to be thrown away. □  Mexican cookery is economical, she says. Nothing goes to waste.

9to waste no time → see time

▸  waste away PHRASAL VERB If someone wastes away , they become extremely thin or weak because they are ill or worried and they are not eating properly. □ [V P ] Persons dying from cancer grow thin and visibly waste away. COLLOCATIONS waste NOUN

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