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v. wait·ed, wait·ing, waits v.intr. 1. b. To stay in one place until another catches up: waited at the corner for everyone else in the group. 2. To remain or be in readiness: Lunch is waiting at the counter. 3. To remain temporarily neglected, unattended to, or postponed: The trip will have to wait. 4. To work as a waiter or waitress. v.tr. 1. To remain or stay in expectation of; await: wait one's turn. 2. Informal To delay (a meal or an event); postpone: They waited lunch for us. 3. To be a waiter or waitress at: wait tables. n. Phrasal Verbs: 1. The act of waiting or the time spent waiting. 2. Chiefly British a. One of a group of musicians employed, usually by a city, to play in parades or public ceremonies. b. One of a group of musicians or carolers who perform in the streets at Christmastime. wait on (or upon) 1. To serve the needs of; be in attendance on. 2. To make a formal call on; visit. 3. To follow as a result; depend on. 4. To await: They're waiting on my decision. wait out To delay until the termination of: wait out a war; waited out the miniskirt craze. wait up 1. To postpone going to bed in anticipation of something or someone. 2. Informal To stop or pause so that another can catch up: Let's wait up for the stragglers. [Middle English waiten, from Old North French waitier, to watch, of Germanic origin; see weg- in the Appendix of Indo-European roots.] |
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