好词典

wastes

UK //weɪsts//US //weɪsts//

词源

源自中古英语 'wasten',来自古法语 'waster',最终源自拉丁语 'vastare',意为'使荒废'或'破坏'。

noun

❶ 指未被利用或未被妥善处理的物质或资源,通常指那些被认为无用或有害的物质。

“The factory dumped its chemical wastes into the river.”

(工厂将化学废料倾倒进河里。)

“Recycling helps reduce the amount of wastes in landfills.”

(回收有助于减少垃圾填埋场的废物量。)

❶ 指未被充分利用的时间、机会或资源,通常带有负面含义。

“He considered his years in that job a complete wastes of time.”

(他认为在那份工作上度过的几年完全是浪费时间。)

“Don't let your talents go to wastes.”

(不要让你的才能白白浪费。)

同义词:rubbish, garbage, trash, refuse, scrap

verb

❶ 指不必要地消耗或使用某物,通常指资源、时间或机会。

“He wastes too much time playing video games.”

(他浪费太多时间玩电子游戏。)

“Don't waste water during the drought.”

(干旱期间不要浪费水。)

同义词:squander, misuse, expend, deplete, consume

常见短语

go to waste — 指某物未被使用或未被充分利用,最终被浪费掉。

“All that food will go to waste if no one eats it.”

(如果没人吃,那些食物都会被浪费掉。)

waste away — 指因疾病、饥饿或其他原因逐渐变得虚弱或消瘦。

“The patient was wasting away from the illness.”

(病人因疾病而日渐消瘦。)