wait

/weɪt/

noun

  1. 1

    A delay.

    I had a very long wait at the airport security check.
  2. 2

    An ambush.

    They lay in wait for the patrol.
  3. 3

    One who watches; a watchman.

  4. 4

    (in the plural) Hautboys, or oboes, played by town musicians.

  5. 5

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

verb

  1. 1

    To delay movement or action until the arrival or occurrence of; to await. (Now generally superseded by “wait for”.)

  2. 2

    To delay movement or action until some event or time; to remain neglected or in readiness.

    Wait here until your car arrives.
  3. 3

    To wait tables; to serve customers in a restaurant or other eating establishment.

    She used to wait down at the Dew Drop Inn.
  4. 4

    To attend on; to accompany; especially, to attend with ceremony or respect.

  5. 5

    To attend as a consequence; to follow upon; to accompany.

  6. 6

    To defer or postpone (especially a meal).

    to wait dinner
  7. 7

    To remain chaste while one's lover is unavailable.

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