noun

waist

waist

He put his arm around her waist.

He put his arm around her waist.

These pants are too tight at the waist.

These trousers are too tight at the waist.

((sb.'s)) waist the part of the body between the ribs and hips He put his arm around her waist.

((at the)) waist referring to the measurement or fit at that body part These trousers are too tight at the waist.

Synonyms: midsection, middle

From Old English 'wæst', meaning 'growth, size'. The meaning shifted to the part of the body where one grows.

Don't 'waste' your time looking for your 'waist' - it's right in the middle! (waste and waist are homophones).

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.