English dictionary



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English adjective: waste

1. waste located in a dismal or remote area; desolate


SamplesA desert island.
A godforsaken wilderness crossroads.
A wild stretch of land.
Waste places.


Synonymsgodforsaken, wild


Similarinhospitable


Antonymshospitable


English noun: waste

1. waste (substance) any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted


SamplesThey collect the waste once a week.
Much of the waste material is carried off in the sewers.


Synonymswaste material, waste matter, waste product


Broader (hypernym)material, stuff


Narrower (hyponym)body waste, crud, dross, effluent, excrement, excreta, excretion, excretory product, exhaust, exhaust fumes, filth, food waste, fumes, garbage, impurity, pollutant, refuse, rubbish, scrap, scraps, sewage, sewer water, sewerage, skank, slop, toxic industrial waste, toxic waste, trash, wastewater

2. waste (act) useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly


SamplesIf the effort brings no compensating gain it is a waste.
Mindless dissipation of natural resources.


Synonymsdissipation, wastefulness


Broader (hypernym)activity


Narrower (hyponym)boondoggle, extravagance, high life, highlife, lavishness, prodigality, squandering, waste of effort, waste of energy, waste of material, waste of money, waste of time

3. waste (attribute) the trait of wasting resources


SamplesA life characterized by thriftlessness and waste.
The wastefulness of missed opportunities.


Synonymsthriftlessness, wastefulness


Broader (hypernym)improvidence, shortsightedness

4. waste (location) an uninhabited wilderness that is worthless for cultivation


SamplesThe barrens of central Africa.
The trackless wastes of the desert.


Synonymsbarren, wasteland


Broader (hypernym)wild, wilderness


Narrower (hyponym)heath, heathland

5. waste (act) (law) reduction in the value of an estate caused by act or neglect


Synonymspermissive waste


Broader (hypernym)act, deed, human action, human activity


Domain categoryjurisprudence, law


English verb: waste

1. waste (possession) spend thoughtlessly; throw away


SamplesHe wasted his inheritance on his insincere friends.
You squandered the opportunity to get and advanced degree.


Synonymsblow, squander


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)expend, use


Narrower (hyponym)burn


Verb groupblow


Antonymseconomize, husband, economise, conserve

2. waste (consumption) use inefficiently or inappropriately


SamplesWaste heat.
Waste a joke on an unappreciative audience.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)apply, employ, use, utilise, utilize

3. waste (possession) get rid of


SamplesWe waste the dirty water by channeling it into the sewer.


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)cast aside, cast away, cast out, chuck out, discard, dispose, fling, put away, throw away, throw out, toss, toss away, toss out

4. waste (motion) run off as waste


SamplesThe water wastes back into the ocean.


Synonymsrun off


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Something is ----ing PP


Broader (hypernym)course, feed, flow, run

5. waste (contact) get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing


SamplesThe mafia liquidated the informer.
The double agent was neutralized.


ExamplesThey want to waste the prisoners


Synonymsdo in, knock off, liquidate, neutralise, neutralize


Pattern of useSomebody ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)kill

6. waste (consumption) spend extravagantly


SamplesWaste not, want not.


Synonymsconsume, squander, ware


Pattern of useSomebody ----s.
Somebody ----s something


Broader (hypernym)drop, expend, spend


Narrower (hyponym)dissipate, fling, fool, fool away, fritter, fritter away, frivol away, lavish, luxuriate, overspend, shoot, shower, splurge, wanton

7. waste (change) lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief


SamplesAfter her husband died, she just pined away.


Synonymslanguish, pine away


Pattern of useSomething ----s.
Somebody ----s


Broader (hypernym)weaken

8. waste (change) cause to grow thin or weak


SamplesThe treatment emaciated him.


Synonymsemaciate, macerate


Pattern of useSomething ----s somebody


Broader (hypernym)debilitate, drain, enfeeble


Causeemaciate

9. waste (change) cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly


SamplesThe enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion.


Synonymsdesolate, devastate, lay waste to, ravage, scourge


Pattern of useSomebody ----s something.
Something ----s something


Broader (hypernym)destroy, ruin


Narrower (hyponym)ruin

10. waste (body) become physically weaker


SamplesPolitical prisoners are wasting away in many prisons all over the world.


Synonymsrot


Pattern of useSomething ----s


Broader (hypernym)degenerate, deteriorate, devolve, drop


Narrower (hyponym)gangrene, mortify, necrose, sphacelate









Based on WordNet 3.0 copyright © Princeton University.
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