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
] □
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. □ [+
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. □
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
] □
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]
2
N‑UNCOUNT
Waste
is the use of money or other resources on things that do not need it. □
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. □
4
VERB
If you
waste
an opportunity for something, you do not take advantage of it when it is available. □ [V
n]
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. □
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. □ [+
7 → see also wasted
8
PHRASE
If something
goes to waste
, it remains unused or has to be thrown away. □
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
]
2