wa shing-u p liq|uid (washing-up liquids ) N‑VAR Washing-up liquid is a thick soapy liquid which you add to hot water to clean dirty dishes. [BRIT ] in AM, use dishwashing liquid , dish soap
wash|out /wɒ ʃaʊt/ (washouts ) N‑COUNT If an event or plan is a washout , it fails completely. [INFORMAL ] □ The mission was a washout.
wa sh-rag (wash-rags ) also washrag N‑COUNT A wash-rag is the same as a washcloth . [AM ]
wash|room /wɒ ʃruːm/ (washrooms ) N‑COUNT A washroom is a room with toilets and washing facilities, situated in a large building such as a factory or an office block.
wash|stand /wɒ ʃstænd/ (washstands ) N‑COUNT A washstand is a piece of furniture designed to hold a bowl for washing your hands and face in, which was used in former times before washbasins had taps on them.
wasn't /wɒ z ə nt, [AM ] wʌ z-/ Wasn't is the usual spoken form of 'was not'.
wasp /wɒ sp/ (wasps ) N‑COUNT A wasp is an insect with wings and yellow and black stripes across its body. Wasps have a painful sting like a bee but do not produce honey.
WASP /wɒ sp/ (WASPs ) N‑COUNT [oft N n] WASP is used to refer to the people in American society whose ancestors came from northern Europe, especially England, and who are considered to have a lot of power and influence. WASP is an abbreviation for 'White Anglo-Saxon Protestant'. [AM , DISAPPROVAL ] □ …a WASP with a Yale degree.
wasp|ish /wɒ sp I ʃ/ ADJ A waspish remark or sense of humour is sharp and critical.
wast|age /we I st I dʒ/
1 N‑UNCOUNT Wastage of something is the act of wasting it or the amount of it that is wasted. □ [+ of ] …a series of measures to prevent the wastage of water. □ There was a lot of wastage and many wrong decisions were hastily taken.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Wastage is the process by which part of someone's body gets weaker or smaller because they are very ill or have not eaten enough. □ This can lead to bodily weakness and muscle wastage.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Wastage refers to the number of people who leave a company, college, or other organization, especially before they have completed their education or training. [BRIT ] □ British universities have very little wastage and their graduates are good.
4 → see also natural wastage
waste ◆◆◇ /we I st/ (wastes , wasting , wasted )
1 VERB If you waste something such as time, money, or energy, you use too much of it doing something that is not important or necessary, or is unlikely to succeed. □ [V n v-ing] There could be many reasons and he was not going to waste time speculating on them. □ [V n + on ] I resolved not to waste money on a hotel. □ [V n] The system wastes a large amount of water. ● N‑SING Waste is also a noun. □ [+ of ] It is a waste of time going to the doctor with most mild complaints. □ [+ of ] I think that is a total waste of money.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Waste is the use of money or other resources on things that do not need it. □ The packets are measured to reduce waste. □ I hate waste.
3 N‑UNCOUNT Waste is material which has been used and is no longer wanted, for example because the valuable or useful part of it has been taken out. □ Congress passed a law that regulates the disposal of waste. □ Up to 10 million tonnes of toxic wastes are produced every year in the U.K… □ …the process of eliminating body waste.
4 VERB If you waste an opportunity for something, you do not take advantage of it when it is available. □ [V n] Let's not waste an opportunity to see the children. □ [V -ed] It was a wasted opportunity.
5 ADJ [usu ADJ n] Waste land is land, especially in or near a city, which is not used or looked after by anyone, and so is covered by wild plants and rubbish. □ Yarrow can be found growing wild in fields and on waste ground.
6 N‑PLURAL [adj N ] Wastes are a large area of land, for example a desert, in which there are very few people, plants, or animals. □ [+ of ] …the barren wastes of the Sahara.
7 → see also wasted
8 PHRASE If something goes to waste , it remains unused or has to be thrown away. □ Mexican cookery is economical, she says. Nothing goes to waste.
9 to waste no time → see time
▸ waste away PHRASAL VERB If someone wastes away , they become extremely thin or weak because they are ill or worried and they are not eating properly. □ [V P ] Persons dying from cancer grow thin and visibly waste away. COLLOCATIONS waste NOUN
2
verb + waste : eliminate, reduce; hate
3
noun + waste : food, household
adjective + waste : hazardous, nuclear, radioactive, toxic; domestic, industrial
verb + waste : dispose of, dump; recycle VERB 1
waste + noun : effort, energy, money, time
waste|basket /we I stbɑːsk I t, -bæsk-/ (wastebaskets ) N‑COUNT A wastebasket is the same as a wastepaper basket . [AM ]
wast|ed /we I st I d/
1 ADJ A wasted action is one that is unnecessary. □ I'm sorry you had a wasted journey.