waist

noun \ ˈwāst \

Definition of waist

1 a :the typically narrowed part of the body between the hips and chest or upper back

put his arm around her waist

b :the greatly constricted basal part of the abdomen of some insects (such as wasps and flies)

2 :the part of something corresponding to or resembling the human waist: such as

a (1) :the part of a ship's deck between the poop and forecastle

(2) :the middle part of a sailing ship between foremast and mainmast

b :the middle section of the fuselage of an airplane

3 :a garment or the part of a garment covering the body from the neck to the waistline or just below:

a :bodice 1

b :blouse

4 :waistline 1b

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waisted

play \ˈwā-stəd\ adjective

See waist defined for English-language learners

See waist defined for kids

Examples of waist in a Sentence

He has a narrow waist and broad shoulders.
He put his arm around her waist.
These pants have an elastic waist.
The waist of this skirt is too tight.

Recent Examples of waist from the Web

In the image shown to jurors during opening statements but not publicly released, Mueller's hand is behind Swift, just below her waist.

— Bloomberg.com, "Taylor Swift Hopes Her Trial Win Inspires Assault Victims," 15 Aug. 2017
And the suggestiveness of those stage moves ensured that Elvis’ 1956 debut performance on the Ed Sullivan show was broadcast to TV viewers with camera angles that only showed Elvis from the waist up.

— george varga, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Was Elvis a thief? Yes! No! Maybe? Music stars weigh in on Presley's legacy," 6 Aug. 2017
Phil Collins, an artist, brought the concrete Engels—in two parts, cut at the waist—from Ukraine, where it had been toppled and dumped along with other Soviet monuments after Russia’s military aggression in 2015.

— The Economist, "Engels returns to Manchester," 20 July 2017
Clear air was only waist-high, so the officers dropped to their knees and crawled on the floor to rescue the man, who apparently was disabled.

— christine dempsey, courant.com, "Police Rescue Bethel Man From Burning Building; One Resident Injured, Official Says," 13 July 2017
Ribbons were tied around the midriff, and tassels hung off waist-binding belts.

— Bloomberg.com, "Chanel Aims High With Starry 'Eiffel Tower' Paris Show," 4 July 2017
The Dion Lee piece commands attention against her black shorts and strappy sandals, and the tie at the waist hangs down past her knees.

— suzannah weiss, Teen Vogue, "Kendall Jenner Wears Long Yellow Sweater in Paris," 4 July 2017
Louis Holmes' tomato plants are as tall as his waist, with crisscrossing white strings holding them up to full height.

— bailey loosemore, The Courier-Journal, "Can food help reconnect a racially divided Louisville?," 27 June 2017
The man was about 5-feet, 3-inches tall with a 32-inch waist, officials said.

— erin gallagher, Daily Southtown, "Man found in ditch was 'badly decomposed,' died from gunshot wounds, Will County coroner says," 22 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'waist.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of waist

Middle English wast; probably akin to Old English wæstm growth, weaxan to grow — more at wax

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

waist Synonyms

Synonyms

middle, midsection, midriff, waistline

Related Words

trunk; abdomen, belly, gut, stomach

Other Clothing Terms

babushka, brogue, bumbershoot, cravat, dishabille, furbelow, layette, raiment, spectator

WAIST Defined for English Language Learners

waist

noun

Definition of waist for English Language Learners

: the middle part of your body between the hips and chest or upper back that is usually narrower than the areas above and below it
: the part of a piece of clothing that fits around your waist