waist

[weyst]

noun

1. the part of the body in humans between the ribs and the hips, usually the narrowest part of the torso.

2. the part of a garment covering this part of the body.

3. blouse.

4. the part of a one-piece garment covering the body from the neck or shoulders more or less to the waistline, especially this part of a woman's or child's garment.

5. a child's undergarment to which other articles of apparel may be attached.

6. the part of an object, especially a central or middle part, that resembles or is analogous to the human waist.

   the waist of a violin.

7. Nautical.,  the central part of a ship; that part of the deck between the forecastle and the quarterdeck.

8. the constricted portion of the abdomen of certain insects, as a wasp.

waist

/ weɪst /

noun

1. anatomy the constricted part of the trunk between the ribs and hips

2. the part of a garment covering the waist

3. the middle part of an object that resembles the waist in narrowness or position

4. the middle part of a ship

5. Also called: centre section. the middle section of an aircraft fuselage

6. the constriction between the thorax and abdomen in wasps and similar insects

Other Word Forms

• waistless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of waist¹

1300–50; Middle English wast, apocopated variant of wastum, Old English wæstm growth, form, figure; akin to wax ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of waist¹

C14: origin uncertain; related to Old English wæstm _wax ²

Example Sentences

She said flooding on the street had been "waist high".

From BBC

Gabriel wrapped his arms around his father’s waist, his small body convulsed with tears: “I love you.”

From Los Angeles Times

Saying he was "really scared" about the next part of his presentation, Bunting stripped to his waist and performed a full-throated haka to his team.

From BBC

Just a fortnight later, he was lying in hospital, paralysed from the waist down after a devastating crash on the slopes.

From BBC

Greece is baking in a heatwave and many of the men were in vests or stripped to the waist.

From BBC

Related Words

• midriff 
• waistline