wagon-lit
1544
pioneers' wagon train. (=a long line of wagons used in 19th-century America) 2 BrE a railway goods vehicle, especially one with an open top 3 especially AmE a TROLLEY: a drinks wagon 4 AmE a small, four-wheeled vehicle with an open top and a handle at the front, often coloured red and used by children as a toy: Calvin sat down in his wagon and begged his dad to pull him along. 5 on the wagon infml no longer willing to drink alcohol
wag·on·lit /ˈvæɡɒn ˈliːt,ˈvɑːɡən-/ n pl. wagons-lits (same pronunciation) a SLEEPING CAR
wag·tail /ˈwæɡteɪl/ n a small European bird that moves its tail quickly up and down as it walks
waif /weɪf/ n especially lit an uncared-for or homeless child or animal: a pitiful little waif | The old lady loved cats, and took any waifs and strays into her home.
Wai·ki·ki /ˌwaɪˈkiːki/ a beach in Hawaii near Honolulu, which is very popular with tourists
wail /weɪl/ v [I] often derog 1 to cry out with a long sound (as if) in grief or pain: Stop weeping and wailing and do something about it. | The wind wailed in the chimney all night. | 'She's taken my apple, mummy,' he wailed mournfully. 2 wailing and gnashing of teeth humor the crying, pain etc that is believed to take place in HELL —wail n [(the)S] the wail of the air-raid sirens
ˌWailing ˈWall, the a high stone wall in Jerusalem where Jews go to pray. It is the only remaining part of the ancient Temple of Jerusalem, which was destroyed in AD70.
wain·scot /ˈweɪnskɒt, ˌ-skɒt‖-skɑːt, -skɑːt/ also wain·scot·ting /ˈweɪnskɒtɪŋ, -skɒt-‖-skɑːt-, -skɑːt-/ [U] n 1 a SKIRTING BOARD 2 a wooden covering on especially the lower half of the walls of a room in an old house —ˌted adj
waist /weɪst/ n 1 the narrow part of the human body below the chest: a 24-inch waist | wearing a belt round his waist 2 the part of a garment that goes round this part of the body: She took in the waist of her dress. 3 tech the narrow middle part of an apparatus, e.g. a stringed musical instrument 4 tech the middle part of a ship 5 -waisted /ˈweɪstɪd/ a) having a waist of the stated kind: trim-waisted girls b) (of a garment) having a waist in the stated position relative to the wearer's waist: high-waisted trousers
waist·band /ˈweɪstbænd/ n the thickened or strengthened part of trousers, a skirt etc, that fastens round the waist
waist·coat /ˈweɪskəʊt, ˈweskəʊt‖ˈweskət/ especially BrE || usually vest AmE — n a close-fitting garment without arms that has buttons down the front and is usually worn under a JACKET, especially by men as part of a suit on formal occasions
waist·line /ˈweɪstlaɪn/ n (the length or position of) an imaginary line surrounding the waist at its narrowest part: No sugar for me, thanks; I'm watching my waistline. (=trying not to become fatter) | a dress with a high waistline
wait¹ /weɪt/ v 1 [(for, until, ABOUT, AROUND)] to stay without doing anything until someone or something comes or something happens: Hurry up! I'm waiting. | Wait a minute! | Wait for me! | We waited and waited but no one came. | Don't keep her waiting. (=Don't make her wait.) | We waited (for) 20 minutes for the bus. | I'm waiting for them (to arrive). | She waited anxiously/impatiently for him to make up his mind. | I can't wait until then; I'm going now. | I'm fed up with all this waiting around! | [+to-v] Are you waiting to use the phone? | I can't wait to (=I am very eager to) tell them the good news! | Here wait a minute (used for getting attention); isn't that my car? | The sign says 'No Waiting'. (=you are not allowed to park here) 2 [T] to delay acting until (the stated occasion): You can't have it yet; you'll have to wait your turn. | He was just waiting his chance to get his revenge. 3 [(until)] to remain unspoken, unheard, or not dealt with: This news can't wait until tomorrow; I'll phone them now. | The business discussions can wait until after dinner. 4 [(for) usually in progressive forms] to be ready: Your supper's waiting (for you); don't let it get cold. 5 [T(for)] infml, especially AmE to delay the beginning of (a meal): Don't wait dinner for me; I will be late. 6 wait and see a) You will find out soon: 'Where are we going, mummy?' 'Wait and see!' b) to wait until the future becomes clearer: I don't think my boss will let me, but I'll just have to
wait and see. 7 wait at table BrE fml || wait on table, wait tables AmE — to serve meals, especially as a regular job → see also WAIT ON
Compare await, wait for and expect. If you await (fml) or wait for someone who will come or something that will happen, you arrange your timetable or actions so that you are ready, perhaps staying still and doing nothing else but wait: 'Why are you standing there?' 'I'm waiting for John (to come).' | 'I'm waiting to use that machine.' If you expect someone or something, you think the person will come or the event will happen, but you will probably not stay still because of this, and may not even make special arrangements: I'm expecting guests. | We're expecting a cold winter. | I expect to (=think I will) be here for another hour. | Mother expects me to (=has told me to and thinks I will) feed the baby. Waiting is a sort of activity, expecting is a state of mind.
wait on sbdy./sthg. phr v [T] 1 to serve food to, especially in a restaurant 2 to wait for; to have not yet received: We're still waiting on the result of the 4.30 race. 3 also wait upon —old use to make a formal visit to (someone) 4 wait on someone hand and foot to serve someone with everything they want: Don't expect me to wait on you hand and foot — make your own breakfast!
wait up phr v [(for)] infml 1 to delay going to bed: Don't wait up (for me); I'll be home very late. 2 AmE to stop while walking or running so that someone behind can come alongside: Hey, John! Wait up, will you.
wait² n [S(for)] an act or period of waiting: We had a long wait for the bus. | The murderer was lying in wait for (=hiding waiting to attack) his victim.
Waite, Ter·ry /weɪt, ˈteri/ (1939–) a British adviser to the Archbishop of Canterbury who went to the Middle East to try to obtain the freedom of some Western HOSTAGES. He was himself taken as a hostage and held for four years until he was released in 1991.
wait·er /ˈweɪtər/ n a man who serves food at the tables in a restaurant: 'Waiter! The menu, please.' | a wine waiter → see FATHER (USAGE)
Waiting for God·ot /ˌweɪtɪŋ fə ˈɡɒdəʊl-fər ˈɡɑː-/ (1955) a play by the Irish writer Samuel BECKETT about two men Vladimir and Estragon, waiting for a third man, Godot, who never comes. The play is a typical example of the THEATRE OF THE ABSURD, and people use the phrase 'waiting for Godot' to describe a situation where they are waiting for something to happen but it probably never will.
ˈwaiting game n [S] delaying to see what happens before taking action: The government is playing a waiting game with the unions that are on strike.
ˈwaiting list n a list of people who have asked for something but cannot be given it at once: I'm afraid there are no vacancies at the moment, but I can put you on the waiting list.
CULTURAL NOTE In the UK, newspapers often discuss the subject of 'NHS (=National Health Service) waiting lists', meaning lists of people who need a medical operation but cannot have it immediately. Politicians often promise to reduce waiting lists, but only rarely succeed in doing this.
ˈwaiting room n a room for people to wait in, e.g. for people waiting to see a doctor, in a station etc
wait·list·ed /ˈweɪtlɪstɪd/ adj included on a waiting list especially for a seat on a plane: We're waitlisted for tomorrow's flight.
wait·ress /ˈweɪtrəs/ n a woman who serves food at the tables in a restaurant
Wait·rose /ˈweɪtrəʊz/ trademark a SUPERMARKET (=a very large store that sells mainly food) in the UK, which is owned by the John Lewis stores. Waitrose supermarkets are considered to be more expensive than others, but also offer good quality food.
waive /weɪv/ v [T] especially fml or tech to state officially that (a right, rule etc) is no longer in effect: We cannot waive the rule except in case of illness. | He has waived all claim to the money.
waiv·er /ˈweɪvər/ n law (a written statement giving proof of waiving a right, claim etc: Please sign this waiver.