Definition of Wait

1. Noun. Time during which some action is awaited. "He ordered a hold in the action"

Exact synonyms: Delay, Hold, Postponement, Time Lag
Generic synonyms: Break, Intermission, Interruption, Pause, Suspension
Specialized synonyms: Extension, Moratorium, Retardation
Derivative terms: Delay, Delay, Hold, Hold

2. Verb. Stay in one place and anticipate or expect something. "They wait a long time"; "I had to wait on line for an hour to get the tickets"

3. Noun. The act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something). "The wait was an ordeal for him"
Exact synonyms: Waiting
Generic synonyms: Inactivity

4. Verb. Wait before acting. "They wait to move "; "The scientists held off announcing their results until they repeated the experiment"
Exact synonyms: Hold Back, Hold Off
Generic synonyms: Act, Move
Specialized synonyms: Hold Out, Delay
Derivative terms: Waiter

5. Verb. Look forward to the probable occurrence of. "He is waiting to be drafted"
Exact synonyms: Await, Expect, Look
Specialized synonyms: Expect, Look Forward, Look To, Hang On, Hold On, Hold The Line, Anticipate, Look For, Look To
Related verbs: Anticipate, Expect
Derivative terms: Expectancy, Expectant, Expectation, Waiter

6. Verb. Serve as a waiter or waitress in a restaurant. "I'm waiting on tables at Maxim's"
Exact synonyms: Waitress
Generic synonyms: Work
Derivative terms: Waiter, Waitress

Definition of Wait

1. v. i. To watch; to observe; to take notice.

2. v. t. To stay for; to rest or remain stationary in expectation of; to await; as, to wait orders.

3. n. The act of waiting; a delay; a halt.

4. v. i. To watch; to observe; to take notice.

5. v. t. To stay for; to rest or remain stationary in expectation of; to await; as, to wait orders.

6. n. The act of waiting; a delay; a halt.

Definition of Wait

1. Verb. (transitive now rare) To delay movement or action until the arrival or occurrence of; to await. (Now generally superseded by "wait for".) ¹

2. Verb. (intransitive) To delay movement or action until some event or time; to remain neglected or in readiness. ¹

3. Verb. (intransitive US) To wait tables; to serve customers in a restaurant or other eating establishment. ¹

4. Noun. A delay. ¹

5. Noun. An ambush. ¹

6. Noun. (obsolete) One who watches; a watchman. ¹

7. Noun. (plural obsolete UK) Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians. ¹

8. Noun. (plural archaic UK) Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen. [formerly waites, wayghtes.] ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Wait

1. to stay in expectation of [v -ED, -ING, -S]

Medical Definition of Wait

1. 1. To stay for; to rest or remain stationary in expectation of; to await; as, to wait orders. "Awed with these words, in camps they still abide, And wait with longing looks their promised guide." (Dryden) 2. To attend as a consequence; to follow upon; to accompany; to await. 3. To attend on; to accompany; especially, to attend with ceremony or respect. "He chose a thousand horse, the flower of all His warlike troops, to wait the funeral." (Dryden) "Remorse and heaviness of heart shall wait thee, And everlasting anguish be thy portion." (Rowe) 4. To cause to wait; to defer; to postpone; said of a meal; as, to wait dinner. 1. To watch; to observe; to take notice. ""But [unless] ye wait well and be privy, I wot right well, I am but dead," quoth she." (Chaucer) 2. To stay or rest in expectation; to stop or remain stationary till the arrival of some person or event; to rest in patience; to stay; not to depart. "All the days of my appointed time will I wait, till my change come." (Job xiv. 14) "They also serve who only stand and wait." (Milton) "Haste, my dear father; 't is no time to wait." (Dryden) To wait on or upon. To attend, as a servant; to perform services for; as, to wait on a gentleman; to wait on the table. "Authority and reason on her wait." . "I must wait on myself, must I?" . To attend; to go to see; to visit on business or for ceremony. To follow, as a consequence; to await. "That ruin that waits on such a supine temper." . To look watchfully at; to follow with the eye; to watch. "It is a point of cunning to wait upon him with whom you speak with your eye." . To attend to; to perform. "Aaron and his sons . . . Shallwait on their priest's office." . To fly above its master, waiting till game is sprung; said of a hawk. Origin: OE. Waiten, OF. Waitier, gaitier, to watch, attend, F. Guetter to watch, to wait for, fr. OHG. Wahta a guard, watch, G. Wacht, from OHG. Wahhen to watch, be awake. 134. See Wake. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Wait

waistcoateer
waistcoateers
waistcoating
waistcoatings
waistcoats
waisted
waister
waisters
waisting
waistings
waistless
waistline
waistlines
waistlong
waists
wait (current term)
wait'll
wait-a-bit
wait-and-see
wait for
wait for it
wait for the ball to drop
wait for the other shoe to drop
wait on
wait on hand, foot and finger
wait on hand and foot
wait on someone hand, foot, and finger
wait on someone hand, foot and finger
wait state
wait states

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