waste
waste /ˈweɪst/
adjective
-
Located in a dismal or remote area; desolate
(
waste
, wild
, godforsaken
)
located in a dismal or remote area; desolate
A desert island
a desert island
A godforsaken wilderness crossroads
a godforsaken wilderness crossroads
A wild stretch of land
a wild stretch of land
Waste places
waste places
noun
-
()
Any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
(
waste matter
, waste product
, waste material
, waste
)
any materials unused and rejected as worthless or unwanted
They collect the waste once a week
they collect the waste once a week
Much of the waste material is carried off in the sewers
much of the waste material is carried off in the sewers
-
()
Useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly
(
dissipation
, wastefulness
, waste
)
useless or profitless activity; using or expending or consuming thoughtlessly or carelessly
If the effort brings no compensating gain it is a waste
if the effort brings no compensating gain it is a waste
Mindless dissipation of natural resources
mindless dissipation of natural resources
-
()
The trait of wasting resources
(
thriftlessness
, wastefulness
, waste
)
the trait of wasting resources
A life characterized by thriftlessness and waste
a life characterized by thriftlessness and waste
The wastefulness of missed opportunities
the wastefulness of missed opportunities
-
(law) reduction in the value of an estate caused by act or neglect
(
permissive waste
, waste
)
(law) reduction in the value of an estate caused by act or neglect
-
An uninhabited wilderness that is worthless for cultivation
(
barren
, waste
, wasteland
)
an uninhabited wilderness that is worthless for cultivation
The barrens of central Africa
the barrens of central Africa
The trackless wastes of the desert
the trackless wastes of the desert
verb
-
()
Spend thoughtlessly; throw away
(
blow
[Informal] , squander
, waste
)
spend thoughtlessly; throw away
He wasted his inheritance on his insincere friends
He wasted his inheritance on his insincere friends
You squandered the opportunity to get and advanced degree
You squandered the opportunity to get and advanced degree
-
()
Use inefficiently or inappropriately
(
waste
)
use inefficiently or inappropriately
Waste heat
waste heat
Waste a joke on an unappreciative audience
waste a joke on an unappreciative audience
-
Become physically weaker
(
rot
, waste
)
become physically weaker
Political prisoners are wasting away in many prisons all over the world
Political prisoners are wasting away in many prisons all over the world
-
Cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly
(
desolate
, lay waste to
, ravage
, devastate
, scourge
, waste
, lay waste
)
cause extensive destruction or ruin utterly
The enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion
The enemy lay waste to the countryside after the invasion
-
Cause to grow thin or weak
(
emaciate
, macerate
, waste
)
cause to grow thin or weak
The treatment emaciated him
The treatment emaciated him
-
Lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief
(
pine away
, waste
, languish
)
lose vigor, health, or flesh, as through grief
After her husband died, she just pined away
After her husband died, she just pined away
-
Spend extravagantly
(
squander
, ware
[Archaic] , waste
, consume
)
spend extravagantly
Waste not, want not
waste not, want not
-
Get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing
(
neutralise
[British] , neutralize
, waste
, do in
, knock off
[Informal] , liquidate
)
get rid of (someone who may be a threat) by killing
The mafia liquidated the informer
The mafia liquidated the informer
The double agent was neutralized
the double agent was neutralized
-
Run off as waste
(
run off
, waste
)
run off as waste
The water wastes back into the ocean
The water wastes back into the ocean
-
Get rid of
(
waste
)
get rid of
We waste the dirty water by channeling it into the sewer
We waste the dirty water by channeling it into the sewer