Definitions for waitweɪt

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

wait^*weɪt(v.i.)

to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often fol. by for or until):
to wait for the bus.
(of things) to be available or in readiness:
A letter is waiting for you.
to remain neglected for a time:
a matter that can wait.
to postpone or delay something or to be postponed or delayed:
Your vacation will have to wait.
to look forward to eagerly:
to wait for a chance to get even.
to work or serve as a waiter.
(v.t.)to await:
You'll have to wait your turn.
to postpone or delay:
Don't wait supper for me.
to serve as waiter for:
to wait tables.
wait on, to serve food or drink to. to attend to the purchasing needs of (a customer) in a store. to be an attendant or servant for. to call upon or visit (a person, esp. a superior). to wait for (a person); await. Also, wait upon. to await (an event).
Category: Verb Phrase, Dialect
wait out, to postpone action until the end of:
to wait out a storm.
Category: Verb Phrase
wait up, to postpone going to bed in anticipation of an expected person or event. Informal. to halt one's walking, running, etc., to allow someone to overtake one.
Category: Verb Phrase
(n.)an act or instance of waiting; delay.
a period or interval of waiting.
Brit. 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.
Category: British

Idioms for wait:

lie in wait, to wait in ambush.
Category: Idiom

^* Usage: Sometimes considered objectionable in standard usage, the verb phrase wait on meaning “to wait for (a person)” is largely confined to speech. It is most common in the Midland and Southern U.S.: Let's not wait on Rachel, she's always late.wait on or upon (an event) does not have a regional pattern and occurs in a wide variety of contexts: We will wait on (or upon) his answer before making our decision.

Origin of wait:

1150–1200; early ME < AF waitier; OF guaitier < Gmc; cf. OHG wahtēn to watch, der. of wahta a watch (see wake1)

Princeton's WordNet

delay, hold, time lag, postponement, wait(noun)
time during which some action is awaited
"instant replay caused too long a delay"; "he ordered a hold in the action"
wait, waiting(verb)
the act of waiting (remaining inactive in one place while expecting something)
"the wait was an ordeal for him"
wait(verb)
stay in one place and anticipate or expect something
"I had to wait on line for an hour to get the tickets"
wait, hold off, hold back(verb)
wait before acting
"the scientists held off announcing their results until they repeated the experiment"
expect, look, await, wait(verb)
look forward to the probable occurrence of
"We were expecting a visit from our relatives"; "She is looking to a promotion"; "he is waiting to be drafted"
wait, waitress(verb)
serve as a waiter or waitress in a restaurant
"I'm waiting on tables at Maxim's"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

wait(verb)ɪt
to stop or delay doing sth until sth happens or sb arrives
I'll wait here.; Wait for me!; Can you wait (for) a few minutes?; Let's wait to see if it rains.
waitɪt
to make sb wait a long time
He kept me waiting for two hours!
waitɪt
to be expecting or hoping sth will arrive or happen
I've been waiting for this email for so long.; the day we have all been waiting for; The company is waiting for me to make a decision.
waitɪt
used to say sth can be done later
We have to fill these orders now - the rest can wait.
waitɪt
ready for sb to use or deal with
Dinner was waiting for her at home.
waitɪt
indicates sb is excited about sth that is going to happen
I can't wait until my birthday!
waitɪt
used to ask sb to wait
Wait a second, I'm almost done.
waitɪt
indicates you have just realized sth
Wait a minute - I know who he is.
waitɪt
indicates sb will have to wait to find out what will happen
We'll just have to wait and see if she's feeling better tomorrow.
waitɪt
to have a job serving people in a restaurant
He waited tables while he was in college.
waitɪt
used to introduce sth you are excited about
Wait till you hear what we did today!
wait(noun)ɪt
the time sb waits for sth
a long wait in the doctor's office

Wiktionary

wait(Noun)
A delay.
I had a very long wait at the airport security check.
wait(Noun)
An ambush.
They laid in wait for the patrol.
wait(Noun)
One who watches; a watchman.
wait(Noun)
Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians.
wait(Noun)
Musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen. [formerly waites, wayghtes.]
wait(Verb)
To delay movement or action until the arrival or occurrence of; to await. (Now generally superseded by "wait for".)
wait(Verb)
To delay movement or action until some event or time; to remain neglected or in readiness.
Wait here until your car arrives.
wait(Verb)
To wait tables; to serve customers in a restaurant or other eating establishment.
She used to wait down at the Dew Drop Inn.

Origin: From waiten, wayten, from waiter, waitier, from Old Low *, derivative of *, from wahtwō, from weǵ-. Cognate with wahten, wachten, guetter, wachtjen. More at watch.

Webster Dictionary

Wait(verb)
to watch; to observe; to take notice
Wait(verb)
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
Wait(verb)
to stay for; to rest or remain stationary in expectation of; to await; as, to wait orders
Wait(verb)
to attend as a consequence; to follow upon; to accompany; to await
Wait(verb)
to attend on; to accompany; especially, to attend with ceremony or respect
Wait(verb)
to cause to wait; to defer; to postpone; -- said of a meal; as, to wait dinner
Wait(verb)
the act of waiting; a delay; a halt
Wait(verb)
ambush
Wait(verb)
one who watches; a watchman
Wait(verb)
hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians; not used in the singular
Wait(verb)
musicians who sing or play at night or in the early morning, especially at Christmas time; serenaders; musical watchmen

Translations for wait

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary

wait(verb)

(with for ) to remain or stay (in the same place or without doing anything)

Wait (for) two minutes (here) while I go inside; I'm waiting for John (to arrive).

wagAfrikaans
يَنْتَظِرArabic
чакамBulgarian
esperarPortuguese (BR)
počkat, čekatCzech
wartenGerman
venteDanish
περιμένωGreek
esperar, aguardarSpanish
ootamaEstonian
منتظر شدنFarsi
odottaaFinnish
attendreFrench
לְחַכּוֹתHebrew
बाट जोहनाHindi
čekatiCroatian
várHungarian
menungguIndonesian
bíðaIcelandic
aspettareItalian
待つJapanese
기다리다Korean
lauktiLithuanian
gaidītLatvian
tungguMalay
wachtenDutch
venteNorwegian
czekaćPolish
منتظر شدنPersian
انتظار ايستل، صبر كول، ځنډيدل: چمتو پاتې كيدل: كرا به ( پيشخدمت ) كيدل ( لكه په هوټلونو او رستورانونو كېPashto
esperarPortuguese
a aşteptaRomanian
ждатьRussian
počkať, čakaťSlovak
čakatiSlovenian
čekatiSerbian
väntaSwedish
คอย; รอคอยThai
beklemekTurkish
等候Chinese (Trad.)
чекати, ждатиUkrainian
انتظارکرناUrdu
đợiVietnamese
等候Chinese (Simp.)