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| Date: | 1200-1300 |
| Language: | Old North French |
| Origin: | waster, from Latin vastare; DEVASTATE |
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waste2 S2 W3 [transitive]
1 to use more money, time, energy etc than is useful or sensible : 
Leaving the heating on all the time wastes electricity.
not use sensibly
Leaving the heating on all the time wastes electricity.2 to not make full use of someone or something : Hannah's wasted in that clerical job. His talents were being wasted as a lawyer.
not use fully
[usually passive]Hannah's wasted in that clerical job.His talents were being wasted as a lawyer.3 if something is wasted on someone, they do not understand how good or useful it is : Her good advice was wasted on the children.
be wasted on somebody
Her good advice was wasted on the children.4 to say something that has no effect : Don't try to reason with Paul - you're wasting your breath.
waste your breath
spokenDon't try to reason with Paul - you're wasting your breath.5 to do something as quickly as you can because it will help you : He wasted no time in introducing himself.
waste no time (in) doing something
He wasted no time in introducing himself.6 used to say that if you use what you have carefully, you will still have some of it if you need it later
waste not, want not
spoken7 to kill someone, severely injure them, or defeat them
harm somebody
informal American Englishwaste away
phrasal verbMI to gradually become thinner and weaker, usually because you are ill
