See wait in Webster's New World College Dictionary
intransitive verb
to stay in a place or remain in readiness or in anticipation (until something expected happens or for someone to arrive or catch up)
to be ready or at hand: dinner was waiting for them
to remain temporarily undone or neglected: let that job wait
to serve food at a meal: with at or on: to wait at table, to wait on a person
transitive verb
to be, remain, or delay in expectation or anticipation of; await: to wait orders, to wait one's turn
Informal to delay serving (a meal) as in waiting for someone: to wait dinner
Obsolete to attend upon or escort, esp. as a token of respect or honor
Obsolete to attend as a consequence
noun
the act or fact of waiting
a period of waiting: a four-hour wait
in England,
any of a group of singers and musicians who go through the streets at Christmastime performing songs and carols for small gifts of money
any tune so performed
Obsolete a member of a band of musicians formerly employed by a city or town in England to play at entertainments
Obsolete a watchman
See wait in American Heritage Dictionary 4
(wāt)
verbwait·ed, wait·ing, waits verb, intransitive
a. To remain or rest in expectation: waiting for the guests to arrive. See Synonyms at stay1.
b. To tarry until another catches up.
To remain or be in readiness: lunch waiting on the table.
To remain temporarily neglected, unattended to, or postponed: The trip will have to wait.
To work as a waiter or waitress.
verb, transitive
To remain or stay in expectation of; await: wait one's turn.
Informal To delay (a meal or an event); postpone: They waited lunch for us.
To be a waiter or waitress at: wait tables.
noun
The act of waiting or the time spent waiting.
Chiefly British
a. One of a group of musicians employed, usually by a city, to play in parades or public ceremonies.
b. One of a group of musicians or carolers who perform in the streets at Christmastime.
Phrasal Verbs: wait on/upon To serve the needs of; be in attendance on. To make a formal call on; visit. To follow as a result; depend on. To await: They're waiting on my decision.wait out To delay until the termination of: wait out a war; waited out the miniskirt craze.wait up To postpone going to bed in anticipation of something or someone. Informal To stop or pause so that another can catch up: Let's wait up for the stragglers.