The difference between waist and waste (grammar lesson)


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Waist is the middle part of the body. Waste means 'rubbish garbage ' or 'to expend without reason'.

The words 'waist' and 'waste' sound identical, but their meanings are very different.

Waist

'Waist' is the part of the body between the ribs and hips. A section of clothing that fits the waist may also be called the 'waist' (e.g., The waist on this suit is too tight). Similarly, midsections of airplanes and ships can also be referred to as 'waists'.

waist

Waste

'Waste' can be a noun, a verb or an adjective. It has several meanings:

Useless materials left over from another activity (i.e., rubbish

, garbage

Cellular waste products are a by-product of cellular respiration.

Originally, soya milk was a waste product of tofu.

The new concept encourages producers to leave no municipal waste for landfill.

To expend materials or resources without reason.

Do not waste drinking water.

Junk mail invades our homes and wastes our time.

To wear away, to weaken or to tire.

Her quadriceps have wasted badly since the injury.

I am wasted after that run.

(I am tired...)

Uninhabited or uncultivated (usually of land).

This area has turned to wasteland since the flood.

To kill (slang).

I am going to waste that little punk.

Select the correct version:

PERSON IN THE MIDDLE

Imagine the i in the middle of 'waist' is a person. So:

"There's a person in the middle of waist. There's a waist in the middle of a person."