wait

verb

• 1stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or event:he did not wait for a reply we’re waiting for Allan to get back Vera did not wait on a Home Office ruling [with infinitive]:Ben stood on the street corner waiting to cross [with object]:I had to wait my turn to play
• (wait for or on) stay where one is or delay action until (someone) arrives or is ready:he sits on the corner waiting for Mary she was waiting on her boyfriend
• be left until a later time before being dealt with:we shall need a statement later, but that will have to wait
• [with object] informal defer (a meal) until a person’s arrival:I told my parents not to wait supper

• 2remain in readiness for a purpose:he found the train waiting on the platform
• (of a vehicle) be parked for a short time at the side of a road.

• 3 (cannot wait) used to indicate that one is eagerly impatient to do something or for something to happen:I can’t wait to tell Nick what happened

• 4act as a waiter or waitress, serving food and drink:a local man was employed to wait on them at table [with object]:we had to wait tables in the mess hall

noun

• 1 [in singular] a period of waiting:we had a long wait

• 2 (waits) archaic street singers of Christmas carols.
• historical official bands of musicians maintained by a city or town.