waist
- waste
These words are both pronounced /weɪst/.
‘waist’
Waist is a noun. Your waist is the middle part of your body, above your hips.
She tied a belt around her waist.
He was naked from the waist up.
‘waste’ used as a verb
Waste is most commonly a verb. If you waste time, money, or energy, you use it on something that is unimportant or unnecessary.
You're wasting time asking him to help – he won't.
We wasted money on a computer that didn't work.
‘waste’ used as a noun
You can also say that something is a waste of time, money, or energy.
I'll never do that again. It's a waste of time.
It's a waste of money buying a new washing machine when we could repair the old one.
Waste also refers to material that has been used and is no longer wanted, for example because the useful part has been removed.
The river was full of industrial waste.
Your kidneys help to remove waste from your body.