wait: Meaning and Definition of
wait
Pronunciation: (wāt), [key]
—v.t.
- to continue as one is in expectation of; await: to wait one's turn at a telephone booth.
- to postpone or delay in expectation: Don't wait supper for me.
- (of things) to be in readiness for; be reserved for; await: Glory waits thee.
- to attend upon or escort, esp. as a sign of respect.
- to wait on Her Majesty at the palace.
- to perform the duties of an attendant or servant for.
- to supply the wants of a person, as serving a meal or serving a customer in a store.
- to call upon or visit (a person, esp. a superior):to wait on Her Majesty at the palace.
- Falconry.(of a hawk) to soar over ground until prey appears.
- Chiefly Midland and Southern U.S.to wait for (a person); await.
- Also,wait upon.to await (an event).
- See(def. 21).
- Wait up, I can't walk so fast.
- to postpone going to bed to await someone's arrival.
- Informal.to halt and wait for another to join one, as in running or walking:Wait up, I can't walk so fast.
—n.
- an act or instance of waiting or awaiting; delay; halt: a wait at the border.
- a period or interval of waiting: There will be a long wait between trains.
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- the time between two acts, scenes, or the like.
- Seestage wait.
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- waits,(formerly) a band of musicians employed by a city or town to play music in parades, for official functions, etc.
- a street musician, esp. a singer.
- one of a band of carolers.
- a piece sung by carolers, esp. a Christmas carol.
- a watchman.
- to wait in ambush: The army lay in wait in the forest.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.