Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

verb + waste : eliminate, reduce; hate

3

noun + waste : food, household

adjective + waste : hazardous, nuclear, radioactive, toxic; domestic, industrial

verb + waste : dispose of, dump; recycle VERB 1

waste+ noun : effort, energy, money, time

waste|basket /we I stbɑːsk I t, -bæsk-/ (wastebaskets ) N‑COUNT A wastebasket is the same as a wastepaper basket . [AM ]

wast|ed /we I st I d/

1 ADJ A wasted action is one that is unnecessary. □  I'm sorry you had a wasted journey.

2 ADJ Someone who is wasted is very tired and weak, often because of an illness. □  They look too wasted to care about much.

wa ste dis|pos|al (waste disposals ) N‑COUNT A waste disposal or a waste disposal unit is a small machine in a kitchen sink that chops up vegetable waste. [BRIT ] in AM, use garbage disposal

waste|ful /we I stfʊl/ ADJ Action that is wasteful uses too much of something valuable such as time, money, or energy. □ [+ of ] This kind of training is ineffective, and wasteful of scarce resources. □  Try to avoid wasteful duplication of effort.

waste|land /we I stlænd/ (wastelands )

1 N‑VAR [oft adj N ] A wasteland is an area of land on which not much can grow or which has been spoiled in some way. □  The pollution has already turned vast areas into a wasteland.

2 N‑COUNT [oft adj N ] If you refer to a place, situation, or period in time as a wasteland , you are criticizing it because you think there is nothing interesting or exciting in it. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [+ of ] …the cultural wasteland of Franco's repressive rule.

waste|paper bas|ket /we I stpe I pə ^r bɑːsk I t, -bæsk-/ (wastepaper baskets ) N‑COUNT A wastepaper basket is a container for rubbish, especially paper, which is usually placed on the floor in the corner of a room or next to a desk.

wast|ing /we I st I ŋ/ ADJ [ADJ n] A wasting disease is one which makes you gradually become thinner and weaker.

wast|rel /we I strəl/ (wastrels ) N‑COUNT If you describe someone as a wastrel you mean that they are lazy and spend their time and money on foolish things. [LITERARY ]

watch

➊ LOOKING AND PAYING ATTENTION

➋ INSTRUMENT THAT TELLS THE TIME

➊ watch ◆◆◆ /wɒ tʃ/ (watches , watching , watched )

→ Please look at categories 15 and 16 to see if the expression you are looking for is shown under another headword.

1 VERB If you watch someone or something, you look at them, usually for a period of time, and pay attention to what is happening. □ [V n] The man was standing in his doorway watching him. □ [V n inf] He watched the waiter prepare the coffee he had ordered. □ [V n v-ing] Chris watched him sipping his brandy. □ [V ] I watched as Amy ate a few nuts.

2 VERB If you watch something on television or an event such as a sports match, you spend time looking at it, especially when you see it from the beginning to the end. □ [V n] I'd stayed up late to watch the film. □ [V n] They spent a great deal of time watching television.

3 VERB If you watch a situation or event, you pay attention to it or you are aware of it, but you do not influence it. □ [V n] Human rights groups have been closely watching the case. □ [V ] Annoyed commuters could only watch as the departure time ticked by.

4 VERB If you watch people, especially children or animals, you are responsible for them, and make sure that they are not in danger. □ [V n] Parents can't be expected to watch their children 24 hours a day.

5 VERB If you watch someone, you follow them secretly or spy on them. □ [V n] Ella was scared that someone was watching her.