Waste | Mean of waste in English Dictionary

/ˈweɪst/

• Noun
• loss of something valuable that occurs because too much of it is being used or because it is being used in a way that is not necessary or effective
1. The current system causes a lot of waste.
2. We need to find ways to reduce/avoid unnecessary waste.
• an action or use that results in the unnecessary loss of something valuable
1. These old computers are still useful. It seems like such a waste to throw them away.
2. Any further investment would be a waste of valuable resources.
3. The show was a waste of money. [=a bad use of money]
4. The lecture was a waste of time. [=a bad use of time]
• a situation in which something valuable is not being used or is being used in a way that is not appropriate or effective
1. That role was a waste of her talents. [=a poor use of her talents]

• material that is left over or that is unwanted after something has been made, done, used, etc.
1. hazardous waste
2. disposal of industrial waste
3. waste removal
4. The city oversees waste disposal contracts.
5. household waste [=trash, rubbish]
6. hazardous wastes
7. household wastes
• the solid and liquid substances that are produced by the body
1. liquid/solid waste
2. a waste treatment plant
• a large and empty area of land
1. the frozen wastes of the tundra
• a worthless person or thing
1. He's a complete waste of space.
• to not be used
1. It's a shame to see all that food go to waste.
2. They don't let anything go to waste when they're camping.
• Verb
• to use (something valuable) in a way that is not necessary or effective
1. Don't waste water during the summer drought.
2. He always wasted his money on useless gadgets.
3. Turn off the lights so we don't waste electricity.
4. I think he's just wasting my time.
5. We can't afford to waste so much food.
• to use (something or someone) in a way that does not produce a valuable result or effect
1. We can't afford to waste this opportunity.
2. She's a good writer but she's wasting her talent. [=she's not using her talent to do the things that she should be doing]
3. My efforts were wasted.
4. He was wasted in that job. [=his talents/skills were not being used in the job]
• to kill or murder (someone)
1. Someone wasted him.
• to become thinner and weaker because of illness or lack of food
1. The disease caused her to waste away.
• to do something quickly
1. We wasted no time getting our tickets. [=we hurried to get our tickets]
• of, relating to, or being material that is left over or unwanted after something has been made, done, used, etc.
1. waste material/water