belt n. & v. --n. 1 a strip of
leather or
other material worn round the waist or
across the
chest,
esp. to
retain or
support clothes or to
carry weapons or as a safety-belt. 2 a belt worn as a
sign of rank or
achievement. 3 a a
circular band of material used as a driving
medium in
machinery. b a
conveyor belt. c a
flexible strip carrying
machine-gun cartridges. 4 a strip of
colour or
texture etc. differing
from that on
each side. 5 a
distinct region or
extent (cotton belt;
commuter belt; a belt of rain). 6 sl. a
heavy blow. --v. 1 tr. put a belt round. 2 tr. (often foll. by on)
fasten with a belt. 3 tr. a
beat with a belt. b sl.
hit hard. 4 intr. sl. rush,
hurry (usu. with compl. : belted
along; belted home). øbelow the belt
unfair or unfairly; disregarding the rules. belt
and braces (of a policy etc.) of
twofold security. belt
out sl.
sing or utter loudly and forcibly. belt up
Brit. 1 sl. be
quiet. 2 colloq. put on a
seat belt.
tighten one's belt live
more frugally.
under one's belt 1 (of food) eaten. 2 securely acquired (has a
degree under
her belt). øøbelter n. (esp. in
sense of belt out). [OE f. Gmc f. L balteus]