waste
nounDefinition of waste
(Entry 1 of 3)
1a
: a sparsely settled or barren region : desert
b
: uncultivated land
c
: a broad and empty expanse (as of water)
3a
: loss through breaking down of bodily tissue
b
: gradual loss or decrease by use, wear, or decay
4a
: damaged, defective, or superfluous material produced by a manufacturing process: such as
(1)
: material rejected during a textile manufacturing process and used usually for wiping away dirt and oil
cotton waste
(2)
: scrap
(3)
: an unwanted by-product of a manufacturing process, chemical laboratory, or nuclear reactor
toxic waste hazardous waste nuclear waste
c
: material derived by mechanical and chemical weathering of the land and moved down sloping surfaces or carried by streams to the sea
waste
verb
wasted;
wasting
Definition of waste (Entry 2 of 3)
1
: to lay waste
especially
: to damage or destroy gradually and progressively
reclaiming land wasted by strip-mining
3
: to wear away or diminish gradually : consume
4a
: to spend or use carelessly : squander
waste valuable resources
b
: to allow to be used inefficiently or become dissipated
a writer wasting her talent
1
: to lose weight, strength, or vitality
—often used with away was wasting away from illness
2a
: to become diminished in bulk or substance
b
: to become consumed
3
: to spend money or consume property extravagantly or improvidently
waste one's breath
: to accomplish nothing by speaking