waist - waste

These words are both pronounced .

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◊ 'waist'

Waist is a noun. Your waist is the middle part of your body, above your hips.

She tied an apron around her waist.

He was naked from the waist up.

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◊ 'waste' used as a verb

Waste is most commonly used as a verb. If you waste time, money, or energy, you use it on something that is unimportant or unnecessary.

You're wasting your time.

...fear of wasting money on a new idea.

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◊ 'waste' used as a noun

You can also say that something is a waste of time, money, or energy.

I'll never do that again. It's a waste of time.

It's a waste of money hiring skis.

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Waste has another meaning. You use it to refer to material which has been used and is no longer wanted, for example because the useful part of it has been removed.

The river was thick with industrial waste.

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