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

They were standing in broad daylight in a Brooklyn park playing the “ping pong shake,” a game in which they were to shake ping-pong balls out of an empty Kleenex box strapped to their waist.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

The cinched waist—the subtle negative drafts ahead of rear quarters—might as well have had whalebone stays.

Read more on Wall Street Journal

Greg also wore tiny flippers that looked like duck feet and a neon bubble attached to his waist to carry our valuables and make us visible to boats.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Most scenes filmed with a human are seen from the waist down or with the human’s face conveniently obscured, reminiscent of how the “Peanuts” cartoons depict a kid’s perspective of adults.

Read more on Salon

He had two arms round my waist and that played a key factor in their goal.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• midriff 
• waistline