waist definition - Dictionary

Dictionary

waist [ wayst ] (plural waists)

noun

Definition:

1. body area between ribs and hips: the part of the human trunk between the rib cage and the hips, usually narrower than the rest of the trunk

2. part of clothing: the part of a garment that fits around the waist of the body

3. narrow part: the narrow middle part of something, e.g. the middle of a violin

4. nautical middle of ship: the middle part of a ship or of a ship's deck between the raised sections at the bow and stern

5. aviation middle of airplane: the middle section of an aircraft's fuselage

6. insects middle of insect: the narrow part of an insect's body between the thorax and the abdomen

[14th century. Origin ?]

waist·ed adjective

waist·less adjective

Spelling Note


	waist or waste? Do not confuse the spelling of waist and waste, which sound similar. Waist is only used as a noun, denoting the narrow part of the body between the rib cage and the hips, or a part of a garment that fits around it. Waste can be used as a noun, denoting a failure to use something wisely or unwanted or unusable remains (as in a waste of money, industrial waste), or as a verb, meaning "fail to make use of something" or "become gradually weaker or thinner": You're wasting your time. They were wasting away from malnutrition.