Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

3 PHRASE Someone who is on the wagon has stopped drinking alcohol. [INFORMAL ] □  I'm on the wagon for a while. Cleaning out my system.

4 → see also station wagon

wag|tail /wæ gte I l/ (wagtails ) N‑COUNT A wagtail is a type of small bird which moves its tail quickly up and down as it walks.

wah-wah /wɑː wɑː/ N‑UNCOUNT [usu N n] In music, wah-wah is used to describe the sound produced by covering and uncovering the open end of a brass instrument. This sound can also be produced electronically, especially when playing the electric guitar. □  He played some wah-wah guitar.

waif /we I f/ (waifs ) N‑COUNT If you refer to a child or young woman as a waif , you mean that they are very thin and look as if they have nowhere to live. □  …a dirty-faced waif of some five or six years.

wail /we I l/ (wails , wailing , wailed )

1 VERB If someone wails , they make long, loud, high-pitched cries which express sorrow or pain. □ [V ] The women began to wail in mourning. □ [V + for ] …a mother wailing for her lost child. ● N‑COUNT Wail is also a noun. □ [+ of ] Wails of grief were heard as visitors filed past the site of the disaster.

2 VERB If you wail something, you say it in a loud, high-pitched voice that shows that you are unhappy or in pain. □ [V with quote] 'Now look what you've done!' Shirley wailed. □ [V that] Primrose, stupefied by tiredness, began to wail that she was hungry. [Also V + about ]

3 VERB If something such as a siren or an alarm wails , it makes a long, loud, high-pitched sound. □ [V ] Police cars, their sirens wailing, accompanied the lorries. ● N‑UNCOUNT Wail is also a noun. □ [+ of ] The wail of the bagpipes could be heard in the distance. ●  wail|ing N‑UNCOUNT □  Our artillery opened up and we heard a fearful wailing and screeching.

waist /we I st/ (waists )

1 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Your waist is the middle part of your body where it narrows slightly above your hips. □  Ricky kept his arm round her waist. □  He was stripped to the waist. ●  -waisted COMB □  Sarah looked slender-waisted, fragile and very beautiful.

2 N‑COUNT The waist of a garment such as a dress, coat, or pair of trousers is the part of it which covers the middle part of your body. ●  -waisted COMB □  …high-waisted dresses.

waist|band /we I stbænd/ (waistbands ) N‑COUNT A waistband is a narrow piece of material which is sewn on to a pair of trousers, a skirt, or other item of clothing at the waist in order to strengthen it.

waist|coat /we I stkoʊt, we skət/ (waistcoats ) N‑COUNT A waistcoat is a sleeveless piece of clothing with buttons which people usually wear over a shirt. [BRIT ] in AM, use vest

waist|line /we I stla I n/ (waistlines )

1 N‑COUNT [oft poss N ] Your waistline is your waist measurement. □  A passion for cooking does not necessarily have to be bad for your waistline.

2 N‑COUNT The waistline of a piece of clothing is the place where the upper and lower parts are sewn together, which is near to your waist when you wear it.

wait ◆◆◆ /we I t/ (waits , waiting , waited )