wastebasket

American  

[weyst-bas-kit, -bah-skit] / ˈweɪstˌbæs kɪt, -ˌbɑ skɪt /

noun

1. a standing basket for wastepaper, small items of trash, etc.

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wastebasket British  

/ ˈweɪstˌbɑːskɪt /

noun

1. Also called (esp in Britain): wastepaper basket.  an open receptacle for paper and other dry litter

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Etymology

Origin of wastebasket

First recorded in 1855–60; waste + basket

Example Sentences

Crawl up the wastebasket—oooh, I didn’t know it would sway like that!

From Literature

This trend should be in the same wastebasket as mullets, microwave dinners and inflated lips.

From Los Angeles Times

Last month, in an act of showmanship during a Facebook Live event, Fain condemned a contract proposal from Stellantis as “trash” — and tossed a copy of it into a wastebasket, “where it belongs,” he said.

From Seattle Times

She said, “Suds, will you excuse yourself from Joey long enough to empty your wastebasket, please.”

From Literature

There are two wide windows with sheer curtains, a closet with an ironing board tucked inside, a mini fridge, a mini wastebasket.

From Literature

Related Words

• dustbin