wait

verb

• 1stay where one is or delay action until a particular time or until something else happens:he did not wait for a reply we’re waiting for Allan to get back they will wait on a Supreme Court 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
• remain in readiness for some purpose:he found the train waiting at the platform
• 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:he will wait supper for me

• 2 (cannot wait) used to indicate that one is eagerly impatient to do something or for something to happen:I can’t wait for tomorrow [with infinitive]:I can’t wait to get started again

• 3act 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) British archaic street singers of Christmas carols.
• historical official bands of musicians maintained by a city or town.