From Middle English wast, waste (“a waste”, noun), from Anglo-Norman, Old Northern French wast, waste (“a waste”), from Frankish *wōstī (“a waste”), from Proto-Germanic *wōstaz, *wōstuz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (“empty, wasted”). Displaced native Middle English wernen (“to refuse”) likely due to the similar sounding Middle English warnen
Meanings
(derogatory, slang) Useless and contemptible.
Waste / Don't talk to me / You're so waste 2022 September 22, “ONTARIO PLACE”, in BADMAN, performed by Bert Le Plug:
Niggas moves so waste / Please, come outside the house and show yourself / So I can say it to your face 2017 March 18, “Free Smoke”, in More Life, performed by Drake:
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most waste
Degree=Sup
lexicographic
more waste
Degree=Cmp
lexicographic
Deriveds
wasteyute (terms derived from waste (adjective)) · wasteman (terms derived from waste (adjective))
From Middle English wast, waste (“a waste”, noun), from Anglo-Norman, Old Northern French wast, waste (“a waste”), from Frankish *wōstī (“a waste”), from Proto-Germanic *wōstaz, *wōstuz, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (“empty, wasted”). Displaced native Middle English wernen (“to refuse”) likely due to the similar sounding Middle English warnen
Meanings
(countable, uncountable) Excess of material, useless by-products, or damaged, unsaleable products; garbage; rubbish.
(countable, uncountable) Excrement or urine.
The cage was littered with animal waste.
(countable, uncountable) A wasteland; an uninhabited desolate region; a wilderness or desert.
The pampas of Argentina and the chilly wastes of Patagonia, like the prairies and deserts of North America, were largely shunned by Spanish settlers until the 1870s. 1992, Edwin Williamson, The Penguin history of Latin America, London; New York: Penguin Books, →ISBN, page 33:
We went down accordingly into the waste, and began to make our toilsome and devious travel towards the eastern verge. 1886 May 1 – July 31, Robert Louis Stevenson, Kidnapped, being Memoirs of the Adventures of David Balfour in the Year 1751: […], London; Paris: Cassell & Company, published 1886, →OCLC:
(countable, uncountable) A place that has been laid waste or destroyed.
(countable, uncountable) A large tract of uncultivated land.
(countable, historical, uncountable) The part of the land of a manor (of whatever size) not used for cultivation or grazing, nowadays treated as common land.
(countable, uncountable) A vast expanse of water.
(countable, uncountable) A disused mine or part of one.
(countable, uncountable) The action or progress of wasting; extravagant consumption or ineffectual use.
Her life seemed a waste.
That was a waste of time!
'Rebel railwaymen' at Birmingham New Street refused to wear the new uniforms on the grounds that they were a "complete waste of public money". 2023 March 22, Mike Esbester, “Staff, the public and industry will suffer”, in RAIL, number 979, page 39:
(countable, uncountable) Large abundance of something, specifically without it being used.
(countable, uncountable) Gradual loss or decay.
(countable, uncountable) A decaying of the body by disease; atrophy; wasting away.
(countable, rare, uncountable) Destruction or devastation caused by war or natural disasters; see "to lay waste".
(countable, uncountable) A cause of action which may be brought by the owner of a future interest in property against the current owner of that property to prevent the current owner from degrading the value or character of the property, either intentionally or through neglect.
(countable, uncountable) Material derived by mechanical and chemical erosion from the land, carried by streams to the sea.
cmn 荒地 (wasteland, desolate region) · es acribaduras (useless by-products, garbage) · pl śmieci (useless by-products, garbage) · sa मरु (wasteland, desolate region) · it dispendio (action of wasting, ineffective use) · ja 無駄 (action of wasting, ineffective use) · es despilfarro (action of wasting, ineffective use) · pt degradação (gradual loss or decay) · ro pierdere (action of wasting, ineffective use) · nl verval (gradual loss or decay) · mi paranga (useless by-products, garbage) · es baldío (large tract of uncultivated land) · az bədxərclik (action of wasting, ineffective use) · ab ацәынхақәа́ (useless by-products, garbage) · gd call (action of wasting, ineffective use) · tl ulila (wasteland, desolate region) · az nahaq yerə sərf etmə (action of wasting, ineffective use) · da ødemark (wasteland, desolate region) · it decadenza (gradual loss or decay) · ne कचर (useless by-products, garbage) · ja 無駄使い (action of wasting, ineffective use) · bg пу́стош (wasteland, desolate region) · sv ödemark (wasteland, desolate region) · el σκουπίδι (useless by-products, garbage) · hi बीहड़ (large tract of uncultivated land) · tl basura (useless by-products, garbage) · th ขยะ (useless by-products, garbage) · te చెత్త (useless by-products, garbage) · fi ylimäärä (large abundance of something) · it scialacquio (action of wasting, ineffective use) · kmr gilêş (useless by-products, garbage) · es derroche (action of wasting, ineffective use) · es terreno baldío (wasteland, desolate region) · es excremento (excrement or urine) · hi कचरा (useless by-products, garbage) · es descampado (wasteland, desolate region) · sq plehera (useless by-products, garbage) · fi joutomaa (historical: unused part of the land of a manor) · lb Offall (useless by-products, garbage) · fi joutomaa (wasteland, desolate region) · el απόρριμμα (useless by-products, garbage) · pt lixo (useless by-products, garbage) · fi jäte (useless by-products, garbage) · fr terre en friche (wasteland, desolate region) · ja 荒れ地 (wasteland, desolate region) · lv atkritumi (useless by-products, garbage) · az tullantı (useless by-products, garbage) · eo dezerto (wasteland, desolate region) · hu ürülék (excrement or urine) · es ahechadura (useless by-products, garbage) · de Bergung (legal: cause of action against degrading the value or character of a property) · es yermo (large tract of uncultivated land) · ru пу́стошь (wasteland, desolate region) · ro irosire (action of wasting, ineffective use) · hu állagromlás (gradual loss or decay) · ca pèrdua (action of wasting, ineffective use) · hu pocsékolás (action of wasting, ineffective use) · hu bányameddő (disused mine) · de Müll (useless by-products, garbage) · de Wasserwüste (vast expanse of water) · ru растра́та (action of wasting, ineffective use) · hi कूड़ा (useless by-products, garbage) · az əbəs yerə sərf edilmə (action of wasting, ineffective use) · ro excrement (excrement or urine) · pdt Aufgank (useless by-products, garbage) · fi tuhlaus (action of wasting, ineffective use) · az israfçılıq (action of wasting, ineffective use) · gl deserto (wasteland, desolate region) · es baldío (wasteland, desolate region) · gd call (useless by-products, garbage) · pt deserto (wasteland, desolate region) · pt dejeto (useless by-products, garbage) · gd ana-caitheamh (action of wasting, ineffective use) · he אבטלה (useless by-products, garbage) · hu puszta (wasteland, desolate region) · tl aksaya (action of wasting, ineffective use) · nl vuil (useless by-products, garbage) · bg загуба (action of wasting, ineffective use) · hu sivatag (wasteland, desolate region) · fr gaspillage (action of wasting, ineffective use) · eo rubo (useless by-products, garbage) · es desecho (useless by-products, garbage) · mi weta (useless by-products, garbage) · enm wast (destruction or devastation caused by war or natural disaster) · hi बीहड़ (wasteland, desolate region) · lb Verfall (gradual loss or decay) · az israf (action of wasting, ineffective use) · es terreno baldío (large tract of uncultivated land) · fi ylijäämä (large abundance of something) · es ahechaduras (useless by-products, garbage) · sv avföring (excrement or urine) · lb Verschwendung (action of wasting, ineffective use) · it landa (wasteland, desolate region) · ota قیر (large tract of uncultivated land) · ab ацры́ҵқәа (useless by-products, garbage) · th กาก (useless by-products, garbage) · pl zniszczenie (destruction or devastation caused by war or natural disaster) · fr dégénération (gradual loss or decay) · de Ausschuss (useless by-products, garbage) · de Rettung (legal: cause of action against degrading the value or character of a property) · tl bulok (gradual loss or decay) · sv förfall (gradual loss or decay) · nl verkwisting (action of wasting, ineffective use) · es echaduras (useless by-products, garbage) · es pérdida (action of wasting, ineffective use) · fi hylätty kaivos (disused mine) · cmn 浪費 /浪费 (action of wasting, ineffective use) · es páramo (wasteland, desolate region) · sh otpad (useless by-products, garbage) · pl spustoszenie (destruction or devastation caused by war or natural disaster) · es desechos (useless by-products, garbage) · pt fezes (excrement or urine) · es prodigalidad (action of wasting, ineffective use) · it scialo (action of wasting, ineffective use) · ja 浪費 (action of wasting, ineffective use) · tl desyerto (wasteland, desolate region) · tl dumi (excrement or urine) · it immondizia (useless by-products, garbage) · pt ermo (wasteland, desolate region) · hi अपशिष्ट (excrement or urine) · ne कचरा (useless by-products, garbage) · de Vergeudung (action of wasting, ineffective use) · fr dégradation (gradual loss or decay) · hu pusztaság (wasteland, desolate region) · ru отхо́ды (useless by-products, garbage) · it sciupio (action of wasting, ineffective use) · de Degeneration (gradual loss or decay) · hu hulladék (useless by-products, garbage) · ug زايا (action of wasting, ineffective use) · es desperdicio (action of wasting, ineffective use) · es echaduras (useless by-products, garbage) · da affald (useless by-products, garbage) · enm wast (wasteland, desolate region) · fi hävittäminen (legal: cause of action against degrading the value or character of a property) · ne फोहोर (useless by-products, garbage) · es páramo (large tract of uncultivated land) · fi joutomaa (large tract of uncultivated land) · uk відхо́ди (useless by-products, garbage) · pt degeneração (gradual loss or decay) · sv skräp (useless by-products, garbage) · ab ацәынха́-мынха (useless by-products, garbage) · es erial (large tract of uncultivated land) · sh smeće (useless by-products, garbage) · de Geröll (geology: material derived by erosion and carried to the sea) · uk сміття́ (useless by-products, garbage) · he אבטלה (action of wasting, ineffective use) · nl verspilling (action of wasting, ineffective use) · de Exkrement (excrement or urine) · es basura (useless by-products, garbage) · ja ゴミ (useless by-products, garbage) · ro rest (useless by-products, garbage) · enm wast (action of wasting, ineffective use) · it spreco (action of wasting, ineffective use) · fi rapautuminen (gradual loss or decay) · ne फोहर (useless by-products, garbage) · it escremento (excrement or urine) · ru отбро́сы (useless by-products, garbage) · ro gunoi (useless by-products, garbage) · es heces (excrement or urine) · hu meddő (disused mine) · ko 랑비 (action of wasting, ineffective use) · it scarto (useless by-products, garbage) · ro decădere (gradual loss or decay) · kmr paşmayî (useless by-products, garbage) · es andurrial (wasteland, desolate region) · io exkremento (excrement or urine) · sv slöseri (action of wasting, ineffective use) · es erial (wasteland, desolate region) · fi rapistuminen (gradual loss or decay) · ru тра́та (action of wasting, ineffective use) · es yermo (wasteland, desolate region) · de Saustall [vulgär] (place that has been laid waste) · tr atık (useless by-products, garbage) · tl sayang (action of wasting, ineffective use) · nl rommel (useless by-products, garbage) · fr stérile (wasteland, desolate region) · hi मल (excrement or urine) · ga dríodar (useless by-products, garbage) · hu ugar (large tract of uncultivated land) · enm wast (large tract of uncultivated land) · fi autiomaa (wasteland, desolate region) · da spild (action of wasting, ineffective use) · sh отпад (useless by-products, garbage) · fi tuho (destruction or devastation caused by war or natural disaster) · de Riesenhaufen (large abundance of something) · is rusl (useless by-products, garbage) · ro pustietate (wasteland, desolate region) · ml മാലിന്യം (useless by-products, garbage) · fr terrain vague (wasteland, desolate region) · gd sgudal (useless by-products, garbage) · bg изхабяване (gradual loss or decay) · fi jätös (excrement or urine) · bg отпадък (useless by-products, garbage) · uk уті́ль (useless by-products, garbage) · fi ulappa (vast expanse of water) · tl tae (excrement or urine) · hu parlag (large tract of uncultivated land) · mi karaweta (useless by-products, garbage) · io eceso (action of wasting, ineffective use) · ja 糞 (excrement or urine) · mi tuakau (wasteland, desolate region) · ro deșert (wasteland, desolate region) · es descampado (large tract of uncultivated land) · hu pazarlás (action of wasting, ineffective use) · enm wast (useless by-products, garbage) · pt excremento (excrement or urine) · de Verschwendung (action of wasting, ineffective use) · de Abfall (useless by-products, garbage) · ga vásta (action of wasting, ineffective use) · de Einöde (wasteland, desolate region) · is drasl (useless by-products, garbage) · nl afval (useless by-products, garbage) · it rifiuto (useless by-products, garbage) · hi बंजर (wasteland, desolate region) · de aufgegebene Mine (disused mine) · nl woestenij (wasteland, desolate region) · fi atropia (decaying of the body by disease — see also atrophy) · fi mereen päätyvä eroosioaines (geology: material derived by erosion and carried to the sea) · cy diffeithdir (wasteland, desolate region) · sq mbeturina (useless by-products, garbage) · sv avfall (useless by-products, garbage) · ko 배설물 (excrement or urine) · bg прахосване (action of wasting, ineffective use) · fi tuhoalue (place that has been laid waste) · ab адәынца́ра (excrement or urine) · pt desperdício (action of wasting, ineffective use) · de Verfall (gradual loss or decay) · de Sicherung (legal: cause of action against degrading the value or character of a property) · tr israf (action of wasting, ineffective use) · az atıntı (useless by-products, garbage) · ro deșeu (useless by-products, garbage) · is sorp (useless by-products, garbage) · gd cosg (action of wasting, ineffective use) · fi erämaa (wasteland, desolate region) · ca malbaratament (action of wasting, ineffective use) · sv spill (action of wasting, ineffective use) · de Verfall (decaying of the body by disease — see also atrophy) · ko 낭비 (action of wasting, ineffective use) · bg износване (gradual loss or decay) · mi paraweta (useless by-products, garbage) · sh смеће (useless by-products, garbage) · pt refugo (useless by-products, garbage) · lb Dreck (useless by-products, garbage) · ab акьа́шра (wasteland, desolate region) · es desperdicio (useless by-products, garbage) · cs odpad (useless by-products, garbage) · ota خراب (place that has been laid waste) · nl wegkwijning (gradual loss or decay) · la ēiectāmenta (useless by-products, garbage)
From Middle English wast, waste (“waste”, adjective), from Anglo-Norman, Old Northern French wast (“waste”), from Frankish *wōstī (“waste, empty”), from Proto-Indo-European *h₁weh₂- (“empty, wasted”). Cognate with Old High German wuosti, wuasti (“waste, empty”), German wüst, Old Saxon wōsti (“desolate”), Old English wēste (“waste, barren, desolate, empty”).
Meanings
(archaic) Uncultivated, uninhabited.
SOo whanne syr Galahad was departed from the castel of maydens / he rode tyl he came to a waste forest / & there he mette with syre launcelot and syr Percyuale but they knewe hym not / for he was newe desguysed / Ryghte so syr launcelot his fader dressid his spere and brake it vpon syr Galahad 1485, Sir Thomas Malory, “xvij”, in Le Morte Darthur, book XIII:
Barren; desert; empty.
‘The stars,’ she whispers, ‘blindly run;
A web is wov’n across the sky;
From out waste places comes a cry,
And murmurs from the dying sun: […] 1850, [Alfred, Lord Tennyson], “Canto III”, in In Memoriam, London: Edward Moxon, […], →OCLC:
For centuries the shrine at Mecca had been of merely local importance, far outshone by the Temple of the Jews in Jerusalem, whose cult Christians had in good measure renewed by their pilgrimage in honour of Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, while leaving the actual site of the Jerusalem Temple dishonoured and waste. 2009, Diarmaid MacCulloch, A History of Christianity, Penguin, published 2010, page 255:
Rejected as being defective; eliminated as being worthless; produced in excess.
Oxygen levels on Earth skyrocketed 2.4 billion years ago, when cyanobacteria evolved photosynthesis: the ability to convert water and carbon dioxide into carbohydrates and waste oxygen using solar energy. 2013 September-October, Katie L. Burke, “In the News”, in American Scientist:
Superfluous; needless.
Dismal; gloomy; cheerless.
the savage Baron's heart[…] became appalled as he gazed forward into the waste darkness of futurity. 1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC:
Unfortunate; disappointing.
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most waste
Degree=Sup
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more waste
Degree=Cmp
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Deriveds
wastewater (terms derived from waste (adjective)) · lie waste (terms derived from waste (adjective)) · nonwasted (terms derived from waste (adjective)) · waste water (terms derived from waste (adjective)) · nonwasting (terms derived from waste (adjective)) · wasteness (terms derived from waste (adjective)) · unwasted (terms derived from waste (adjective)) · lay waste (terms derived from waste (adjective)) · wasteland (terms derived from waste (adjective))
Translations (59)
ro deșert (barren) · tl masyado (excess) · de öde (barren) · it di rifiuto (excess) · fi liika- (excess) · it residuo (excess) · io nekultivita (barren) · it incolto (barren) · bg необработен (barren) · bg ненужен (superfluous; needless) · nl braakliggend (barren) · fi liiallinen (superfluous; needless) · hu kietlen (barren) · sv överflödig (excess) · bg пустинен (barren) · it superfluo (superfluous; needless) · enm wast (barren) · tl sobra (excess) · sv öde (barren) · de verschmutzt (superfluous; needless) · it di scarto (excess) · ro inutil (superfluous; needless) · bg бракуван (excess) · it non necessario (superfluous; needless) · tl labis (superfluous; needless) · tl higit (excess) · tl labis (excess) · ota چوراق (barren) · de überflüssig (excess) · tl sobra (superfluous; needless) · it deserto (barren) · fi liika- (superfluous; needless) · bg негоден (excess) · ro superfluu (superfluous; needless) · hu puszta (barren) · it inutile (superfluous; needless) · ro pustiu (barren) · gd fàs (barren) · de überflüssig (superfluous; needless) · ja 不必要 (superfluous; needless) · tl baog (barren) · sv överflödig (superfluous; needless) · ro sterp (barren) · nl overtollig (excess) · fi liiallinen (excess) · ota قیراچ (barren) · ro prisos (excess) · de wüst (barren) · uk пу́стка (barren) · tl pagang (barren) · de Schmutz- (superfluous; needless) · ja 無駄 (excess) · de brach (barren) · ja 荒れた (barren) · fi karu (barren) · nl woest (barren) · it arido (barren) · tl tigang (barren) · enm wast (excess)
From Middle English wasten (“to waste, lay waste”), from Anglo-Norman, Old Northern French waster (“to waste, devastate”) (compare also the variant gaster and French gâter from a related Old French word); the Anglo-Norman form waster was either from Frankish *wōstijan (“to waste”), from Proto-Indo-European *wāsto- (“empty, wasted”), or alternatively from Latin vastāre and influenced by the Frankish; the English word was assisted by similarity to native Middle English westen ("to waste"; > English weest). Cognate with Old High German wuostan, wuastan, wuostjan (“to waste”) (Modern German wüsten), Old English wēstan (“to lay waste, ravage”).
Displaced native Old English essian and strȳndan. Largely overtook Old English forspillan and wēstan.
Meanings
(transitive) To devastate; to destroy.
The Tiber / Insults our walls, and wastes our fruitful grounds. 1697, Virgil, “Aeneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
Thou barrein ground, whome winters wrath hath wasted, / Art made a myrrour to behold my plight. 1579, Immeritô [pseudonym; Edmund Spenser], “Ianuarie. Aegloga Prima.”, in The Shepheardes Calender: […], London: […] Iohn Wolfe for Iohn Harrison the yonger, […], →OCLC:
(transitive) To squander (money or resources) uselessly; to spend (time) idly; to dissipate.
Full many a flower is born to blush unseen, / And waste its sweetness on the desert air. 1750 June 12 (date written; published 1751), T[homas] Gray, “Elegy Written in a Country Churchyard”, in Designs by Mr. R[ichard] Bentley, for Six Poems by Mr. T. Gray, London: […] R[obert] Dodsley, […], published 1753, →OCLC:
We wasted millions of dollars and several years on that project.
A “moving platform” scheme[…]is more technologically ambitious than maglev trains even though it relies on conventional rails.[…]This set-up solves several problems […]. Stopping high-speed trains wastes energy and time, so why not simply slow them down enough for a moving platform to pull alongside? 2013 June 1, “Ideas coming down the track”, in The Economist, volume 407, number 8838, page 13 (Technology Quarterly):
E. Kay (1822-1897), afterwards Lord Justice of Appeal, had rooms on the same staircase as myself, and we wasted a great deal of time together, both in term and in my second summer vacation. . 1909, Francis Galton, Memories of my life, page 69:
I like this place, / And willingly could waste my time in it. c. 1598–1600 (date written), William Shakespeare, “As You Like It”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene vi], lines 812–813:
(slang, transitive) To kill; to murder.
(transitive) To wear away by degrees; to impair gradually; to deteriorate; to diminish by constant loss; to use up; to consume; to spend; to wear out.
Wasted by such a course of life, the infirmities of age daily grew on him. 1769, William Robertson, The History of the Reign of the Emperor Charles V. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), London: […] W. and W. Strahan, for W[illiam] Strahan, T[homas] Cadell, […]; and J. Balfour, […], →OCLC:
until your carcases be wasted in the wilderness 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Numbers 14:33:
(intransitive) To gradually lose weight, weaken, become frail.
(intransitive) To be diminished; to lose bulk, substance, strength, value etc. gradually.
[…]The barrell of meale shall not waste, neither shall the cruse of oile faile, vntill the day that the Lord sendeth raine vpon the earth. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, 1 Kings 17:14:
To damage, impair, or injure (an estate, etc.) voluntarily, or by allowing the buildings, fences, etc., to fall into decay.