weɪt v. & n. --v. 1 intr. a defer
action or
departure for a specified
time or
until some expected
event occurs (wait a minute; wait till I
come; wait for a fine day). b be
expectant or on
the watch (waited to see
what would happen). c (foll. by for) refrain
from going so fast
that (a person) is left
behind (wait for me!). 2 tr.
await (an
opportunity, one's
turn, etc.). 3 tr. defer (a meal etc.) until a person's
arrival. 4 intr. (usu. as
waiting n.)
park a
vehicle for a
short time at the
side of a road etc. (no waiting). 5 intr. a (in full wait at or US on table)
act as a
waiter or as a
servant with similar functions. b act as an
attendant. 6 intr. (foll. by
on, upon) a await the
convenience of. b
serve as an attendant
to. c pay a
respectful visit to. --n. 1 a
period of waiting (had a long wait for the train). 2 (usu. foll. by for) watching for an
enemy;
ambush (lie in wait; lay wait). 3 (in pl.)
Brit. a
archaic street singers of
Christmas carols. b
hist.
official bands of musicians maintained by a
city or
town. øcannot wait 1 is
impatient. 2
needs to be
dealt with
immediately. can wait
need not be dealt with immediately. wait-a-bit a
plant with
hooked thorns etc. that
catch the
clothing. wait
and see await the
progress of events. wait for it! colloq. 1 do not
begin before the
proper moment. 2 used to
create an
interval of
suspense before
saying something unexpected or amusing. wait on Austral.,
NZ, & N.Engl. be
patient, wait. wait up (often foll. by for) not go to
bed until a
person arrives or an event happens.
you wait! used to
imply a
threat,
warning, or
promise. [ME f. ONF waitier f. Gmc, rel. to WAKE(1)]
