1553
water
wast·ed /'weɪstɪd/ adj infml very drunk
waste dis·pos·al n 1 also 'waste dis·pos·al ,unit BrE ||garbage disposal, garbage disposer trademark AmE — a machine connected to the waste pipe of a kitchen SINK which cuts solid waste into small pieces before it is carried away by the flow of water, thus avoiding blocking the pipes 2 [U] especially BrE || disposal AmE — the process of destroying or getting rid of used, damaged, or unwanted matter: a waste disposal plant
waste·ful /'weɪstfʊl/ adj tending to waste things: It's wasteful to throw these away; we might be able to use them one day. | wasteful habits --ly adv --ness n [U]
waste ground n [U] an empty, unattractive piece of land that is not used for anything: a piece of waste ground
waste·land /'weɪstlænd, -lərnd/ n [C;U] (an area of) empty, unproductive, usually ugly land: (fig.) the industrial wastelands of northern England (=with empty ruined old factories)
Waste ,Land, The (1922) a long poem by T.S. ELIOT. It is written in a style that was new and unusual at that time, and it has had a great influence on modern poetry.
waste 'paper n [U] paper got rid of because used, not necessary, or not fit for use
waste-pa·per bas·ket /,weɪst'peɪpə ˌbɑːskɪt, 'weɪstˌpeɪpə-||'weɪstˌpeɪpər ˌbæ-/ also waste·bas·ket /'weɪstˌbɑskɪt||-,bæ-/ especially AmE — n a small container, usually indoors, into which one throws away unwanted paper etc -> compare LITTER BIN
waste ,product n something useless produced by the same action that produces something useful: Urine is one of the body's waste products.
wast·er /'weɪstə/ n 1 (often in comb.) someone or something that uses things wastefully, or causes or permits waste: Washing clothes by hand is a real time-waster; you should get a washing machine. 2 derog someone who uses their time and money foolishly, too quickly etc, without thought for the future
was·trel /'weɪstrəl/ n lit for WASTER
watch¹ /wɒtʃ||wɑːtʃ, wɔːtʃ/ v 1 [I;T] to look (at) attentively: Some of them were playing cards, and others were watching. (=looking at the people playing cards) | I missed what was happening because I wasn't watching very closely. | She watched the train until it disappeared round the bend. | Do you watch a lot of television? | Watch me, and then try to copy what I do. | [+wh-] Watch how I do it. | [+obj+to-v-ing] We watched the sun set/setting behind the trees. | [+to-v] She watched to see what he would do. 2 [T] to be careful with or pay attention to: You'd better watch Smith; I think he's a thief. | He watches his weight more as he grows older. | [+(that)] Watch the milk doesn't boil over! | [+wh-] Watch how you use that knife; it's sharp! 3 Watch it! infml Be careful! 4 watch oneself AmE infml a) to be careful b) to control one's habits: I have to watch myself when it comes to chocolate. (=I try not to eat too much) 5 watch one's step infml to act with great care 6 watch the clock infml to be waiting for one's working day to end instead of thinking about one's work -> see SEE (USAGE) --er n
watch for phr v [T] to look for; expect and wait for: She watched for her chance to speak.
watch out phr v [I usually imperative] infml to take care: Watch out! There's a car coming!
watch out for sthg./sbdy. phr v [T] 1 to keep on looking for: Watch out for a tall man in a black hat. 2 to be careful of: Watch out for the dog/his temper!
watch over sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] to guard and protect; take care of
watch² n 1 [C] a small clock to be worn, especially on the wrist, or carried: He wound up his watch. -> see CLOCK (USAGE) 2 [S;U] the act of watching carefully: The sentry was keeping watch. | The police are keeping (a) close/careful watch on the activities of those men. | Be on the watch for thieves in this crowd. 3 [S] a person or people ordered to watch a place or a person: In spite of the watch set on the house, the thief escaped. 4 [C-sing./pl. vU] (sailors who have to be on duty during) a period of two or four hours at sea: You'll take the first watch tonight. | Who's on watch now? 5 [the-S+sing./pl. v] also night watch — a form of police force doing duty in towns at night in former times: Call out the watch! 6 [C usually pl.] especially poet a period (of the night) spent awake: during the still watches of the night
watch·band /'wɒtʃbænd||'wɑːtʃ-, 'wɔːtʃ-/ n AmE for WATCH-STRAP
'watch ,chain n a chain fastened at one end to a watch and at the other to one's clothing
watch·dog /'wɒtʃdɒg||'wɑːtʃdɔːg, 'wɔːtʃ-/ n 1 a fierce dog kept to guard property 2 a person or organization that tries to guard against stealing, wasteful use of public money, undesirable practices etc: a government watchdog on television advertising standards | the telecommunications watchdog OFTEL
watch·ful /'wɒtʃfʊl||'wɑːtʃ-, 'wɔːtʃ-/ adj [(for)] careful to notice things; VIGILANT: She was watchful for any signs of activity in the empty house. --ly adv --ness n [U]
watch·keep·er /'wɒtʃˌkiːpə||'wɑːtʃ-, 'wɔːtʃ-/ n someone whose job is to guard or protect something, especially a ship
watch·mak·er /'wɒtʃˌmeɪkə||'wɑːtʃ-, 'wɔːtʃ-/ n a person who makes or repairs watches or clocks
watch·man /'wɒtʃmən||'wɑːtʃ-, 'wɔːtʃ-/ n pl. -men /-mən/ a guard, especially of a building or an area with buildings on it -> see also NIGHT WATCHMAN
'watch night ,service n a church service which is held in Britain on 31st December to celebrate the New Year
watch·out /'wɒtʃaʊt||'wɑːtʃ-, 'wɔːtʃ-/ n AmE the act of watching for something; LOOKOUT: Keep a watchout for errors like this one.
watch·strap /'wɒtʃstræp||'wɑːtʃ-, 'wɔːtʃ-/ BrE || also watchband AmE — n a band of leather, cloth, metal etc, by which a wristwatch is kept fastened to the wrist
watch·tow·er /'wɒtʃˌtaʊə||'wɑːtʃ-, 'wɔːtʃ-/ n a high tower from the top of which people can see what is coming a long way off, used especially in former times
Watchtower, The a magazine produced by the religious group the JEHOVAH'S WITNESSES, who go to people's houses and try to persuade them to buy it
watch·word /'wɒtʃwɜːd||'wɑːtʃwɜːrd, 'wɔːtʃ-/ n a word or phrase that expresses a principle or guide to action of a person or group; SLOGAN: Let constant vigilance be your watchword.
wa·ter¹ /'wɔːtə||'wɔː-, 'wɑː-/ n [U] 1 the most common liquid, without colour, taste, or smell, which falls from the sky as rain, forms rivers, lakes, and seas, and is drunk by people and animals: The prisoner was given only bread and water. | The hotel has hot and cold running water (=from TAPS) in each room. | a glass of water | This reservoir supplies the whole city with water. | sea water | bathwater (=water in a bath) 2 a mass or area of water, such as a lake, ocean, or river: Help! He's fallen in the water. | She dived into the water and swam towards him. | After the flood most of the town was under water. | The goods came by water (=by boat) not by air. | a wide stretch of open water 3 the level of the sea (or of some rivers), at a particular time; TIDE: The boat left at high/low water. 4 above water infml out of serious difficulty, especially with regard to money: The company has not had a very successful year but has managed to keep its head above water. (=stay out of debt) 5 like water off a duck's back infml (especially of advice, warnings, or unpleasant experiences) having no effect on someone; not influencing someone's behaviour: I must have told him a hundred times, and he always forgets - it's like water off a duck's back. 6 water on the brain/knee etc liquid on the brain, knee etc, as the result of disease 7 water under the bridge past events which one can no longer change 8 water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink quote a slightly changed phrase from the poem The Rime of the Ancient Mariner by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. The actual words he wrote are: 'Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink'. 9 blow sth out of the water to destroy a business or organization, or show that an idea or plan is not true or will not work, often used in newspapers and magazines: I could name a number of Australian wines that could blow the French vineyards out of the water. | Assertions that private pensions can match state pensions have been blown out of the water by a number of recent scandals. -> see also WATERS, HEAVY WATER, HOT WATER, SODA WATER, TOILET WATER, TONIC