Idioms for waste
go to waste,
to fail to be used or consumed; be wasted: She hates to see good food go to waste.
lay waste,
to devastate; destroy; ruin: Forest fires lay waste thousands of acres yearly.
Origin of waste
1150–1200; 1960–65
for def 6; (adj.) Middle English < Old North French
wast (Old French
g(u)ast) < Latin
vāstus desolate; (v.) Middle English < Old North French
waster (Old French
g(u)aster) < Latin
vāstāre, derivative of
vāstus; (noun) Middle English < Old North French
wast(e) (Old French
g(u)aste), partly < Latin
vāstum, noun use of neuter of
vāstus, partly derivative of
waster; Old North French
w-, Old French
gu- by influence of cognate with Frankish
*wōsti desolate (cognate with Old High German
wuosti)
SYNONYMS FOR waste
OTHER WORDS FROM waste
wast·a·ble, adjective waste·less, adjective out·waste, verb (used with object), out·wast·ed, out·wast·ing. un·wast·a·ble, adjectiveWORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH waste
waist wasteWords nearby waste
British Dictionary definitions for lay waste
waste
/ (weɪst) /
verb
noun
adjective
Derived forms of waste
wastable, adjectiveWord Origin for waste
C13: from Anglo-French
waster, from Latin
vastāre to lay waste, from
vastus empty
Medical definitions for lay waste
waste
[ wāst ]
v.
To gradually lose energy, strength, or bodily substance, as from disease.
n.
The undigested residue of food eliminated from the body; excrement.
Scientific definitions for lay waste
waste
[ wāst ]
Noun
An unusable or unwanted substance or material, such as a waste product. See also hazardous waste landfill.
Verb
To lose or cause to lose energy, strength, weight, or vigor, as by the progressive effects of a disease such as metastatic cancer.
Idioms and Phrases with lay waste (1 of 2)
lay waste
Ravage, ruin, as in The hurricane laid waste the entire seashore. Originally referring to the devastation caused by attackers, this term has come to be used more generally.
Idioms and Phrases with lay waste (2 of 2)
waste