wait

Less common meanings

4. 4
   serve foodverbUSintransitive

   To serve people their food and drinks at a restaurant.

   Like being the person who brings your meal to the table and checks if you need anything.

   She waits on tables at a busy diner on weekends.

   I wait on tables three evenings a week to cover my rent.

   UsageSay wait tables or wait on tables.

   Similarserve

5. 5
   stay faithfulverbintransitive

   To stay loyal to your partner while they are away for a long time.

   Like keeping a chair saved for a friend who is coming back later.

   She promised to wait while he was stationed abroad.

   They waited faithfully through years of being apart.

   UsageSay she promised to wait for him.

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6. 6
   verbobsolete

   To watch someone secretly while planning to harm them.

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7. 7
   escortverbobsoletetransitive

   To serve and go with an important person, often with great respect.

   He chose a thousand horse, the flower of all / His warlike troops, to wait the funeral.

   1697, Virgil, “Aeneis”Here, wait means go with as an honor guard.

   Remorse and heaviness of heart shall wait thee, / And everlasting anguish be thy portion.

   1714, Nicholas Rowe, The Tragedy of Jane Shore

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8. 8
   hold a mealverbcolloquial

   To put off something until later, especially a meal.

   Like keeping the food warm on the stove until everyone is home.

   Let's wait dinner until your father gets home.

   Montague Thorold, who impatiently watched her wherever she went, came to tell her that his mother waited breakfast for her.

   1791, Charlotte Smith, CelestinaHere, waited means delayed breakfast until she came.

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9. 9
   computer delaynounabbreviationellipsis

   Short for wait state: a short delay while a computer waits for slower parts.

   The processor adds a wait before reading from slow memory.

   Older chips need an extra wait to stay in step with memory.

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10. 10
    ambushnoununcountable

    The act of hiding and watching secretly, ready to attack or surprise someone.

    The robbers lay in wait behind the rocks beside the road.

    A cat lay in wait under the bush for the birds to come down.

    UsageUsed in lie in wait: the cat lay in wait for the birds.

    Similarambush

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11. 11
    Christmas musiciannounUKcountableplural

    One of a group of musicians who play music outdoors at night, especially at Christmas.

    Like carol singers who go from house to house on a cold winter night.

    In old English towns, the waits sang carols in the streets at Christmas.

    The town waits gathered to sing carols on Christmas Eve.

    UsageSay the waits for these singers.

    Similarserenader, caroler

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12. 12
    verbobsolete

    To come along with or follow as a result of something.

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13. 13
    nounobsolete

    A person whose job is to watch or guard, especially at night.

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14. 14
    nounobsoleteUKplural

    An old kind of oboe played by town musicians.

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