waste

S2 W1

BrE /weɪst/ AmE /weɪst/

noun / verb / adjective en → es

1 USELESS [uncountable] A2

something that is not used or needed and is therefore a waste of time, money, etc.

desperdicio, basura, inutilidad

  • waste of something

Collocations waste of time · waste of money

  • It's a waste of time trying to persuade him.

    Es un desperdicio de tiempo tratar de convencerlo.

2 DESTROY [transitive] B1

to use or destroy something in a way that is not necessary and does not help anyone.

destruir, malgastar, desperdiciar

  • waste something

Collocations waste resources · waste energy

  • We mustn't waste any more time.

    No debemos malgastar más tiempo.

3 DISCARD [transitive] B1

to throw something away because it is no longer useful or wanted.

tirar, desechar, arrojar

  • waste something

Collocations waste paper · waste food

  • She wasted a lot of perfectly good food.

    Ella tiró mucha comida perfectamente buena.

4 TIME [reflexive] B1

to spend time doing something that is not useful or necessary and does not help anyone.

malgastar, perder el tiempo, desperdiciar

  • waste one's time

Collocations waste your time · waste my time

  • Don't waste your time on people who don't appreciate you.

    No malgastes tu tiempo en personas que no te aprecian.

5 URINE [uncountable] B2

the liquid that is produced by the body and passed out of it through the bladder.

orina, líquido urinario

  • waste

Phrasal verbs

waste away WEAKEN B2

debilitarse, empeorar, deteriorarse

  • He was wasting away from lack of food.

    Se estaba debilitando por falta de alimento.

waste on SPEND ON C1

malgastar en, desperdiciar en

  • She wasted her youth on a useless career.

    Ella malgastó su juventud en una carrera inútil.

waste out REMOVE C1

expulsar, echar fuera

  • The police wasted him out of the country.

    La policía lo expulsó del país.

waste over PASS OVER C1

pasar por, dejar pasar

  • The opportunity was wasted over.

    La oportunidad se dejó pasar.

waste up MOVE UP C1

subir, mover hacia arriba

  • The waste was wasted up the pipe.

    El desecho fue subido por el tubo.

Idioms

waste no time B2

no perder tiempo, actuar rápidamente

  • We wasted no time in starting the project.

    No perdimos tiempo en comenzar el proyecto.

waste not, want not C1

no desperdicies, no te faltará

  • We should remember to waste not, want not.

    Deberíamos recordar que no desperdicies, no te faltará.

waste of breath C1

gastar saliva, hablar en vano

  • It's a waste of breath trying to reason with him.

    Es un gasto de saliva tratar de razonar con él.